Organisation Membership: Pegasus Group

Pegasus Group is a leading development consultancy, specialising in creating practical and sustainable building solutions that get results.

Organisation Membership of the Institute of Economic Development (iED) has become a long-term investment in both Pegasus Group’s people and the business itself. The multidisciplinary consultancy has been an Organisation Member since the membership category was introduced, recognising the value of connecting its economics team with the UK’s leading independent professional body for economic development.

“The iED is the main national voice for economic development,” outlined Richard Cook, Senior Director – Economics at Pegasus Group. “It’s known, even by non-members, and carries a level of authority and respect. Firstly, from a personal perspective, being part of the iED has been crucial for connecting with economic development professionals, public and private sector, including traditionally at the Annual Conference. It also brings people together effectively through online events and CPD.”

Organisation Membership was a “no-brainer”, Richard added: “Given the size of the team, it simply made sense. We don’t just want individuals to benefit from membership – we want the whole organisation to benefit. Economic development is a very small, close-knit profession. There aren’t many of us, and the iED is the recognised organisation. It’s got the name, the legacy and the brand. Every year, when renewal comes around, everything is getting more expensive and you have to justify every cost, but membership has never really been questioned. It’s always, ‘Yes, we need to renew it’.”

However, Pegasus sees Organisation Membership as much more than a subscription. Through events sponsorship (including as Headline Partner at the 2026 Annual Conference), thought leadership and speaking opportunities, membership helps build both the company’s profile and that of its people. “We’re definitely getting value from it,” Richard stated. “The Annual Conference is central to that value. It’s not just about having a stand. It’s about the sponsorship opportunities, chairing sessions and raising our profile. One of the first things organisations cut during tougher times is marketing, but I’ve always believed you have to keep investing in marketing. You need to keep telling people who you are and why you’re good at what you do. If you don’t you lose ground.”

Alongside raising the company’s profile, Richard believes Organisation Membership creates valuable development opportunities for colleagues. “The Annual Conference consistently covers relevant topics,” he said. “There’s always something worthwhile – whether you’re listening, networking or helping to shape the conversation. From a CPD perspective, it gives colleagues experience of public speaking, presenting professionally and engaging with stakeholders. That might not immediately sound like an organisational membership benefit, but from my perspective, it’s exactly the kind of thing I want people to gain experience in. It’s something I actively include in people’s annual objectives.”

The expertise that Pegasus offers has expanded from planning, to design, to environmental consultancy advice, evolving to economics, heritage expertise, transport, infrastructure, biodiversity, climate, air and noise, and building surveying and project management. Membership is therefore carefully targeted at colleagues working directly in economic development, including Bindu Pokkyarath, Director – Economics, who chaired a panel at the 2025 Annual Conference, before the Pegasus team presented the Outstanding Impact award at the iED Annual Awards.

“The economics team at Pegasus Group has a long-standing relationship with the iED,” Bindu commented. “As a company we’ve been members of the IED for more than ten years and have gained significant value from the membership and continued collaboration. Our team is currently providing critical economic inputs that support planning applications, investment decisions and strategic planning. The economics team is in a growth phase with the team working on business cases and social value strategies for both public and private sector clients. This presents a great opportunity for us to use this membership as a platform to connect, collaborate and exchange ideas within the member community of the iED.

“One of the major strengths of the iED is that it’s such a focused community. It is a relatively small membership, and because everyone works in economic development, almost everything that’s discussed is relevant, whether you’re from the private or public sector. It gives the members an opportunity to exchange ideas and share lessons learnt from various projects they have been involved in over the course of the year.”

Richard, who also served voluntarily as an iED Board Member from 2022-24, added: “Membership of the iED keeps us fully up to date with everything happening in economic development. Organisationally, it helps us to build our profile within the sector, and network with like-minded businesses and organisations. CPD is a very important aspect of membership as you never stop learning, and both for myself and younger, graduate members of the team there are numerous events to attend over the course of 12 months.”

Case study developed: July 2026