Summary of Investigation – Institute of Directors

Published on: Friday 9th December 2022

October to December 2022

Organisation or Person Investigated

Institute of Directors (“IoD”)

Matter(s) Investigated

Whether the IoD is a consultant lobbyist

Registrar’s Decision

The IoD is not a consultant lobbyist

Summary of Rationale for Decision

The IoD’s communications with government ministers that the Registrar is aware of are not ‘on behalf of a client’, which is one of the tests in the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (‘the Act’). The Registrar considers that the IoD is expressing a collective view of the organisation as a whole, rather than a view on behalf of a member (client).  

Chronology

Date	Action
11 October	Formal letter from the Registrar to the IoD giving background on the requirement for registering; asking if their activities fall within the criteria to be registered; with reference to the the IoD website stating one of the membership benefits is ‘Be heard. The IoD is its members’ voice to UK government, influencing the debate, shaping the agenda and advocating change through surveys and commissions.’
25 November	Substantive response from IoD regarding its structure, communications, breadth of offer and qualitative research on the value given to different aspects of IoD membership.
9 December	Letter from the Registrar concluding his investigation.

9 December 2022

Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists

office@orcl.gov.uk