Investors in People
Welcome
My role as IiP project Manager is to provide a focus for the University, including the provision of advice and guidance to units whether they be considering IiP recognition for the first time or preparing for a post recognition review. Continuous Improvement is a key aspect of IiP and I can help you achive that using a variety of techniques, including Kaizen workshops and improvement focus groups. I also make the link between IiP (Scotland) and the University through the Managing Assessor and the University’s Senior Sponsor. More specifically, my role includes:
- Advice on any aspect of IiP
- Presentations covering the route to recognition
- Organising/providing internal health checks
- Liaising with the Managing Assessor
- Organising/delivering training
- Making links with other people initiatives
- Tracking progress against targets
- Reporting progress to Senior Management
For further details, please contact me at: T: 01224 27 3692 · F: 0 1224 27 2005 · E: g.m.robertson@abdn.ac.uk
Gordon Robertson
Organisational Development
The Standard
IiP is based around 4 basic phases: advice, assessment, recognition and review.
For further details about IiP, and the journey that organisations follow, please visit the Investors in People website.
Contacts
University IiP Co-ordinator
Gordon Robertson
Organisational Development
Human Resources
University of Aberdeen
University Office
King's College
Aberdeen
AB24 3FX
T: 01224 27 3692 · F: 0 1224 27 2005 · E: g.m.robertson@abdn.ac.uk
Investors in People UK
7-10 Chandos Street
London
W1G 9DQ
T: 020 7467 1900 · F: 020 7636 2386 · E: information@iipuk.co.uk
Investors in People Scotland
Orchard Brae House
30 Queensferry Road
Edinburgh
Lothian
EH4 2HS
T: 0131 625 0155 · F: 0131 625 0144 · E: enquiries@iipscotland.co.uk
Managing Assessor
John Middlewick
T: 01479 872604 · E: Jmiddlewick@totalise.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I implement Investors in People into my department or how do I get started?
You should talk to the University’s IiP coordinator in the first instance to talk through your priorities and how that integrates with the University’s overall approach. The University’s IiP coordinator can be contacted by telephone on 3692 and by email: g.m.robertson@abdn.ac.uk
Are there any tools to help me prepare?
There is an on-line self-assessment tool that can be accessed from the web at www.iipforward.co.uk/
Will the IiP Assessor understand my part of the University?
Assessors are chosen for their broad business background and generally work as independent business consultants. Many will specialise in working with Colleges and Universities.. The quality of their work is managed by a Quality Centre which will match up your area with an Assessor that has appropriate experience. The University will also have a managing assessor asigned to oversee our whole-University IiP approach.
Can you implement the Investors in People Standard yourself?
You can but it is advisable to draw on the expertise which already exists within the University. There are a number of departments who have achieved the IiP standard and therefore they can provide advice and will have examples of good practice. You should talk to your coordinator in the first instance.
How much will it cost to become an Investor in People?
The costs of assessments vary depending on the size of your area and the geographical spread. For small departments an assessment can take about 2-3 days and larger areas 5-10 days. Assessment costs are in the region of £550 plus vat and expenses per day.
How long will it take to become an Investor in People?
This depends very much on what kind of changes you need to make, and how quickly you can put them into practice. The flexible nature of the Standard means that it can be used by organisations of all types and sizes. This does however make generalising about timescales difficult. It may be realistic to expect that an organisation could achieve Investor in People status within a year however; this will vary depending on the changes your department needs to make.
Do we get more than one chance to meet the Standard?
Yes, if the Assessor feels that there is more work to be done before you meet the Investors in People Standard they will give detailed feedback which will help you to plan further development and decide an appropriate timescale to continue the assessment.
When should my department come forward for assessment?
Your department can request an internal assessment at any time once it has decided to work towards the Standard. Coming forward for assessment as early as possible will provide you with an opportunity to see what progress you have made and what else you need to do to meet the Standard.
What happens after we achieve Investors in People?
Once your department has been recognised as an Investors in People you will be subject to regular reviews no more than three years apart. Within this time frame, you can choose how frequently you wish to be reviewed. You may choose to be reviewed more frequently, not only to ensure that you are still achieving the Standard but also to be aware of the progress you have made since the last assessment. Continuous improvement is a key aspect of the Standard therefore your approach should take account of this.
Is there a lot of paperwork?
The Standard doesn't tell you what you need to do to achieve success and you don't have to provide any extra paperwork to achieve the Standard. Evidence for the assessment is gathered from a range of sources and is not paper based. Most evidence is objectively gathered by interviewing a representative sample of staff from your department.
Can I use my own resources to identify whether I meet the Standard?
Once recognised, Internal Review can help you further embed Investors in People into your department’s culture. The Internal Review process enables you to utilise the skills and expertise of your own people to monitor your organisations performance. The findings from Internal Review will contribute to the external assessment but it is the external Assessor that makes the decision as to whether you continue to meet the Standard.
What happens if we are not ready for assessment when we thought we would be?
Even if you find you are not quite ready, it will give you an opportunity to see what progress you have made and what else you need to do to meet the Standard in full, so you should still aim for assessment as early as possible. You will also find it a useful opportunity to have some quality feedback from an independent viewpoint.
How do I advertise my Investor in People status?
Once an organisation has achieved Investors in People status, then it is possible for them to promote their status in a variety of ways, from purchasing Investor in People products available only to those organisations which have been recognised. Included in these products is the Investor in People Logo. To obtain a copy of the Investor in People Logo, and any other of the Investor in People products, please contact the order line on 0870 850 4477 or email iipuk@tso.co.uk
As an employee of an Investor in People organisation what benefits can I expect?
A priority of all organisations working with the Investors in People Standard is to ensure that their employees are kept in touch with what is going on. Importantly as an employee of the University, you should understand the University’s ambition (as outlined in the strategic plan) and the role you will play in helping it get there. It is also vital that you understand how your work contributes to the success of the University as a whole. It is easier for you if you know exactly what is expected of you, so you and your manager will go through what you need to achieve and how you go about it. In working with the Investors in People Standard, your department will have to demonstrate that it meets all of the 10 indicators of the Standard. These are outlined at the Investors in People Standard The way in which an organisation achieves each indicator can vary so there is no precise way of explaining exactly what practices as an employee you should be able to identify. You should realise through that if you are working with the Standard then you are working with an organisation that wants to do things properly. You could get ahead more quickly at work because you are managing your career better and getting the support you need to develop. It should be a good place to work, with a positive and supportive atmosphere.
How long does my recognition as an Investor in People Last?
The Investors in People Standard is awarded indefinitely, subject to regular reviews no more than three years apart. Within this time frame, organisations can choose how frequently it wishes to be reviewed and informed on what process has been made since the last visit.
Can Investors in People help me achieve other quality standards?
Yes. 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.
Can I talk to a recognised organisation?
Investors in People UK has awarded Champion status to a number of exemplar Investors in People organisations which offer a programme of best-practice sharing activities. For further details please visit www.investorsinpeoplechampions.co.uk
What is the history behind the Investors in People Standard?
The Standard was development during 1990 by the National Training Task Force in partnership with leading national, business, personnel, professional and employee organisations such as The Confederation of British Industry and The Trade Union Congress. The Standard provides a national framework for improving business performance through a planned approach to setting and communicating organisational objectives.
Initially, the Standard was administered through a section in the Department for Education and Employment. It was extensively tested during 1991 by Training and Enterprise Councils, and Local Enterprise Councils. The experiences of the UK's most successful organisations, large and small, representing all sectors of the UK economy, were very positive and the Standard received the full endorsement of the wide range of interested parties. During 1993, as a demand for, and interest in the Standard grew, Investors in People UK was formed to take national ownership of the Standard, protect its integrity and ensure it's successful promotion and development.
Investors in People UK is a non departmental public body (NDPB), which means that it reports to, and receives funds from the Department for Education and Skills. Being an NDPB means that Investors in People UK retains a great deal of independence and is responsible for all its own business planning, policy development and day-to-day operations. Since 1991 tens of thousands of UK employers, employing millions of people have become involved with the Standard and enjoy the benefits of being an "Investor in People".
Who develops the Standard?
At Investors in People UK, the Development and Quality Teams work together to develop and quality assure the Investors in People Standard, ensuring that organisations continue to gain value from being an Investor in People.