ICOM has conducted 65 “in-company”, action learning programmes over the past 20 years, beginning in companies such as Shell, Cummins, Swan Hunter and British Aerospace.  Their overseas activities began in Botswana and Malawi.  They also founded the International Journal of Public Sector Management, which became one of the leading public sector management journals.

In the early 1990s ICOM’s diploma programmes were accredited by Oxford University (OUDLE) and its “in-company” MBA programmes by Bradford University.  Three programmes were run for Shell in Brunei, three for the UK Civil Service and several in the private and public sectors of Barbados.  At MBA level, programmes were run for National Power in the UK, the Singapore Institute of Management and Almond Beach Resorts in Barbados.

During this period ICOM continued to deliver non-qualification, action learning, senior management programmes.  In Tarmac, they conducted 10 workshops for the top 150 managers followed by two programmes with company boards helping them define and deliver their business strategies.  In the UK Health Service they helped two health authorities with their strategic plans and ran a programme for 100 South Africans as part of the South African Advanced Education Project (SAAEP).  In 1996 they delivered a part-time, action learning Doctorate in Business Administration in Barbados which focused on development issues in the Caribbean. 

In the late 90’s, ICOM began to specialise in infrastructure programmes in telecoms, construction, ports, electricity, tourism and hospitality, solid waste, water, healthcare and oil & gas.  The first programmes were run in Singapore Telecom and P T Telkom of Indonesia, followed by MBA programmes in Barbados in the tourism and hospitality sector, diploma programmes in port management in Malaysia and a programme for the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority.

In the UK construction industry programmes were run in Costain, Wates, Gleeson and Mace aimed at integrating their supply chains.  These programmes were accredited by Cambridge University (UCLES).

In early 2007 ICOM faculty members created the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) Academy.  This is a niche business school specialising in action learning programmes for the governments and private sectors of emerging markets.  These programmes focus on leadership programmes in the infrastructure, manufacturing, banking, hospitality and public sectors.