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ICB UK and Journey partner to bring better tech to bookkeepers in the UK

By Jordan Vickery29 July 20253 min read

Journey and ICB UK partnership announcement
On this page
  1. The Bookkeepers Tech Board
  2. Focus groups and interviews for vendors building in the UK market
  3. Helping bookkeepers stay informed and ahead

[London, 29th July 2025] - We’re excited to announce a new partnership between Journey and the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers UK (ICB) — a collaboration built around a shared goal: helping bookkeepers get better access to the right technology.

This partnership will see Journey and ICB UK work more closely to ensure bookkeepers are given a seat at the table when new tools are being built.

_“This partnership is all about bringing the right people together. Bookkeepers have always been at the front of software adoption. We’re proud to partner with Journey to help software vendors raise the bar in bookkeeping tech.” – Ami Copeland, CEO of ICB UK _

Supporting bookkeepers through better tech choices

The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB UK) is the leading professional body for bookkeepers in the United Kingdom, supporting tens of thousands of members across the country.

With a strong focus on raising standards, building community, and helping bookkeepers stay ahead of industry changes, ICB UK is a trusted voice in the profession.

“Bookkeepers can often be overlooked in the world of accounting technology. It’s time they had more influence on how the tools they use every day are shaped. This partnership helps make that happen.”  – Jordan Vickery, Global Director and Head of EMEA, Journey

Journey works with leading accounting and bookkeeping apps to help them grow globally — and now, through this partnership, we’re connecting the two sides more directly.

Together, we’ll help vendors gain deeper insight into what bookkeepers actually need — and give bookkeepers early access to tools that solve real problems.

We’re starting with three major initiatives:

TL;DR

  1. Journey and ICB UK are partnering. The tie-up with the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers — the UK's leading body, with tens of thousands of members — gives bookkeepers a seat at the table when tech is built.
  2. A Bookkeepers Tech Board leads it. An expert group of ICB members meets quarterly, and Journey clients get preferential access to their insights and recommendations.
  3. Direct feedback for vendors. Focus groups and 1:1 interviews with ICB members let product teams test ideas and pressure-test workflows with real users.
  4. Keeping bookkeepers ahead. Co-hosted sessions and webinars spotlight practical tech that saves time, supports compliance and improves client service.
  5. Invitation-only for now. The board is founding-members-only at this stage — vendors keen to engage can reach out at hello@letsjourney.io.

1. The Bookkeepers Tech Board

ICB UK has established a dedicated Bookkeepers Tech Board l — an expert group of ICB members who meet quarterly to discuss how technology is impacting their day-to-day work.

As part of this partnership, Journey clients will receive preferential access to the council’s insights and engagement opportunities, ensuring they can connect directly with bookkeepers shaping the future of bookkeeping tech.

The insights from this group will be shared in the form of regular research and recommendations, helping to shape how new technology is built and introduced across the UK bookkeeping profession.

2. Focus groups and interviews for vendors building in the UK market

For vendors looking to understand the UK bookkeeping space, this partnership offers a direct route to meaningful feedback and insight. Journey and ICB UK will host focus groups with ICB members, giving product teams an opportunity to test ideas, explore workflows, and get honest feedback from the people who’d actually be using their tools.

We’ll also facilitate 1:1 interviews for more targeted research — allowing vendors to dig deeper into specific roles, pain points, or industry segments, all with the support of ICB’s trusted community.

3. Helping bookkeepers stay informed and ahead

This isn’t just about shaping new tools — it’s about making sure bookkeepers know what’s out there and how it can help. Journey and ICB will co-host sessions, webinars, and other initiatives to highlight practical tech solutions that save time, support compliance, and improve client service.

The aim is to keep the UK bookkeeping community informed, empowered, and confident when it comes to choosing and using technology — while also helping quality vendors get in front of the right audience at the right time.

At this stage, the Bookkeepers Tech Council is by invitation only, as we focus on establishing a strong foundation with our founding members. We’ll look to open up additional spots for bookkeepers in the future.

If you’re a vendor interested in research opportunities or engaging with the council, get in touch at hello@letsjourney.io.

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