Everyone agrees that people are an organisation's greatest asset, and we all know that for an organisation to succeed everyone has to perform well. To achieve this, people need the right knowledge, skills and motivation to work efficiently.

WHAT IS INVESTORS IN PEOPLE?

• The Investors in People Standard is a straightforward, proven framework for delivering business improvement through people.
• It is a business improvement tool designed to advance an organisation’s performance through its people.
• Investors in People provides a flexible framework which any organisation can adapt for its own requirements as it mirrors the business planning cycle (plan, do, review).

BENEFITS OF INVESTORS IN PEOPLE

Independent research consistently shows that the Investors in People Standard provides real business benefits to organisations of all sizes and across all sectors.

Practical benefits include:

• Improved earning, productivity and profitability – skilled and motivated people work harder and better improving productivity.
• Customer satisfaction – Investors in People is central to helping employees become customer-focused enabling organisations to effectively meet customer needs.
• Improved motivation – Through employees’ greater involvement, personal development and recognition of achievement, motivation is improved. This, in turn, leads to higher morale, improved retention rates, reduced absenteeism, readier acceptance of change and identification with the organisation’s goals beyond the confines of the job role.
• Reduced costs and wastage – Skilled and motivated people constantly examine their work to contribute towards reducing costs and wastage.
• Enhanced quality – Investing in people significantly improves the results of quality programmes. Investors in People adds considerable value to The Excellence Model, ISO 9000, and other quality initiatives.
• Competitive advantage through improved performance – Investors in People organisations develop a competitive edge.
• Public recognition – Investors in People status brings public recognition for real achievements measured against a rigorous National Standard. Being an Investor in People helps to attract the best quality job applicants. It may also provide a reason for customers to choose specific goods and services.

PRINCIPLES OF INVESTORS IN PEOPLE

Investors in People was first launched in 1990. The Standards have been regularly reviewed since then and the current Investors in People Standards were launched in November 2004.

It doesn't matter what size or type of organisation you are, the Investors in People Standard is there to help you improve the way you work. You have to meet the same criteria – or 'indicators' – as other organisations, but the Standard recognises that you will meet them in your own way. Investors in People recognises that organisations use different means to achieve success through their people. It does not prescribe any one method but provides a framework to help you find the most suitable means for achieving success through your people.

The Standards are based on every organisation’s business planning cycle – Plan, Do, Review.

The most recent changes to the Standards have improved the relevancy of the principles and reduced them to three. They have also reduced the number of indicators to 10.
The new structure has a greater relevance to employers as it has a more logical flow starting with business strategy.

Investors in People is the only quality standard that focuses on people, so the good practices that you need to follow to become an Investor in People dovetail well with other quality standards, such as ISO 9000 and with the Business Excellence Model.

IS INVESTORS IN PEOPLE FOR US?

Employees need to have skills to do their job properly and organisations need to develop those skills to keep abreast of our ever-changing world. An organisation that wants to improve the skills of its employees, and encourage their employees to become part of their vision and success, would be the type of organisation which would benefit from undertaking the Investors in People Standard.

WORKING WITH QUALTECH

Qualtech has advisors, registered with Investors in People UK, who will work closely with your organisation offering expert advice and practical support to benchmark your organisation against the standards, help you implement improvements and focus on solutions. Our advisors offer you an extra resource and an external eye – a perspective from another point of view.

We will review the expectations of the revised Standards against current practices within your organisation and develop an action plan to support the development areas identified. We will help you to:

• Communicate the changes within your organisation
• Encourage and engender ownership for the changes
• Review whether the changes made are achieving the required results
• Take appropriate action if further developments are required
• Help you plan for your review/assessment

For many organisations Investors in People consultancy services are 100% funded by Welsh Assembly Government – contact our Sales & Marketing team to see if your organisation is eligible for funding.

For more information about IIP please view our IIP FAQ or contact our marketing department.