Starting in January 2026
Our current courses
We have a suite of courses focused on Place Management and Place Leadership.
Testimonials
Current student 2025 cohort
Sara Lewis, MIPM
Regeneration Project Officer, Belfast City Council.
'I enrolled onto the Masters in Place Management and Leadership in September 2024 with Manchester Metropolitan University. This course is fundamentally aligned with the work of the Institute of Place Management (IPM), which has serves as a dynamic hub for research, professional practice, and policy engagement in the field. I have found that my course has been supported by a wealth of IPM resources including access to the peer-reviewed Journal of Place Management and Development, which offers rigorous insights into place branding, urban regeneration, and stakeholder engagement which are areas central to current practice. Participation in IPM’s seminars and webinars, covering themes from high street transformation to inclusive place leadership, fosters critical dialogue and continual learning. My involvement with IPM has strengthened my professional networks by connecting with academics, practitioners, and policymakers. This facilitates invaluable signposting to expertise and case studies relevant to my work in the Regeneration and Development Division of local council.'
Graduated student, PG Dip 2022
Simon Kirk, MIPM
Assistant Director for Growth and Development City of Lincoln Council.
How has completing the Level 7 qualification impacted your professional development and career progression?
The qualification gave me the confidence to match my experience, which in-turn has led me to take on a much wider portfolio outside of an inward investment/skills/marketing axis. I am now responsible for community action to capital projects, which would not have happened without the qualification.
What specific skills or knowledge gained from the place management and leadership course have been most valuable in your role?
The module covering place data and research was tough but a real game changer for me. I’d always considered myself as not being academic and that ‘research’ was only for brainiacs. The module not only enhanced a weaker part of my skills set but gave me the confidence to apply my hands-on experience to make better and more efficient decisions.
Can you share an example of how you’ve applied what you learned in a real-world work setting?
National policy favour sexy sectors that they believe will improve the countries competitive edge and ignore that 40% of jobs in the foundational economy – jobs and services that need to be delivered locally and cannot be moved elsewhere. We are about to embark on our inclusive economic growth strategy, which is a key pillar of City of Lincoln’s ‘Vision 2030’ so there will be a heavy focus on the foundational economy, which I admit had a profound impact on me during the course and will feature heavily in the work we do here at Lincoln over the next five years.
What would you say to someone considering enrolling in a Level 7 qualification in the next ?
Just do it, the time spent thinking about is time you could be cracking-on.
How did you find the support, resources, and overall experience of the programme?
The overall experience was good, with tutors on hand to answer my most basic of questions and the quality of resources through the library was excellent. Additionally, the cohort I was in were extremely encouraging and that is something you will get by being part of the programme.
Are you still a member of IPM, and why?
Yes, I am. The need to constantly learn and improve as a place practitioner will drive me to be a member for the duration of my professional career.
Masterclasses
Our Masterclass can prompt further reading and exploration of development themes relevant to your personal place practice, as well as giving an insight into study on IPM’s postgraduate programmes including the MSc Place Management
January 2026
Place Management and Leadership
The short course will introduce you to the fundamentals of place management and leadership from an interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder perspective.
June 2026
Place Marketing and Branding and Communication
The masterclass covers key topical debates in the field of Place Marketing and Branding. We'll have a range of speakers from the IPM team and practising place marketers.