The Institute of Licensing is a registered charity whose charitable objects are principally concerned with education in the field of licensing and regulatory activity. It is governed by a voluntary Board of Trustees, each leaders in their own field, drawn from across the field of public and private sectors, police, academia and the law. Its staff are highly experienced former licensing officers.
The Institute is regionally based, ensuring that it has a high degree of knowledge of local concerns and priorities concerning the night time economy in general and licensing enforcement in particular.
In addition to national governance by the Board of Trustees, a key working strength of the organisation is its regional constitution, with each region supported by a committee, including a Trustee from the Board of Trustees. This regional structure ensures that the Institute is able to tailor its activities in a way which reflects local priorities and concerns, including by using regional speakers, regional case studies and local support.