anyone use the IOD?

[davidd]

I've been thinking about joining the IOD for some time, mainly to use the pall mall offices as a base when I'm in london (a few times per month).

I know I could just crack open my laptop in starbucks but that is not quite the same!

any thoughts or feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks

David

[anonymous-user]

One of my fellow directors is a member and we have used the London offices...much more private and impressive looking than meeting in some random cafe or hotel foyer.

[Touching Cloth]

If you can genuinely use it a few times a month then I think it is great value and just quite nice to have somewhere a little more private and civilised to go to. I joined but just didn't use and have let it lapse again. You will get a shed load of mail from them though as a member as they constantly try to tempt you to networking events and seminars etc.

[srebbe64]

I used to be a member and the only reason was the use of the Pall Mall office. I reckon you'd probably need to use them about twice a month to make it worthwhile.

[Touching Cloth]

srebbe64 said:

I used to be a member and the only reason was the use of the Pall Mall office. I reckon you'd probably need to use them about twice a month to make it worthwhile.

OT: Is this you in the bar with a book and a Pda then Srebs??

[davidd]

srebbe64 said:

I used to be a member and the only reason was the use of the Pall Mall office. I reckon you'd probably need to use them about twice a month to make it worthwhile.

Thats hit the nail on the head, we are aiming at 2 to 4 days per month where we'd be able to take advantage of it.

D

Edited by davidd on Thursday 15th February 19:11

[slinky]

For intruiged chap in the corner... IOD??

[davidd]

institue of directors..

www.iod.com

It seems to me to be a cost effective way of getting a London base....The premises I have used (116 and 123 pall mall) are pretty impressive...

There is also a load of networking and development stuff but I'm less interested in that.

D

[RichUK]

We use it as a base for meetings and for some of the networking events they hold in our regional areas. It'd be worth it for just one of those two things, but we get lots out of both of them.

[IRM]

once you make an enquiry they bug you for ages

they did me

[Stephanie Plum]

I use it every time I'm in London - 6/8 times a month. Also in Brussels. Great facilities, ideal location in town - they've also got one in the City of London too.

[Leftie]

How much do they charge?

I was a member of the Commonwealth Club near Charring Cross when I was in London 2 or 3 times a month. It was about £200-300 a year as I recall , which allowed you use of their facilities, but also free meeting space in nice but quite little rooms in the basement (suitable for 4-6 people). Nice restaurant etc. and they did a waitress service on the coffee ETC to the meeting rooms. I used them to interview job applicants and meet with clients although you have to book wel in advance to get the meeting rooms. Only drawback was that they hired the place out for various international events and the place was crowded with sandwich eatting worthies, but I always found a quiet spot.

I can't recall what the entry criteria was, but the application form seemed to require you to give you educational qualifications etc.

[Leftie]

www.rcsint.org/club/

[Stephanie Plum]

IOD is about £275 pa I think, with an initial joining fee of around another £200. You have to be a listed company director, and have been for a minimum time, to qualify, if not I think you can be an associate member, but I can't really remember the exact details www.iod.com

[norbertc]

Folk

Anyone have any views on the IOD networking events?... we are less interested in the office locations but interested in getting in front of as may potential clients/business partners as possible?... had already seen these guys and wondered if it was worth a punt.

Cheers

norb

[Stephanie Plum]

What do you do? The events are better for some services than others.

[norbertc]

we have a range of IT and telecomms managed services. Typically a business benefit approach rather than a technical one. Hence the reason for looking at mechanisms to get to meet the right type of people.

Cheers

norb

[Stephanie Plum]

Could be worth your while then - you'll meet a fair few sme owners, and occasionally the odd bigger fish. Be prepared for meeting lots of consultants as well though - they tend to gravitate to the networking events. The local events tend to be less valuable than the London ones, or at least that's what I've found so far. For a years membership it'll be cheaper and potentially more effective than advertising, which rarely works I find, though possibly less effective in the long run than a decent PR approach.