The Standard

What Is It?

The Standard is a flexible framework to improve your organisation which you can adapt to suit your organisation. Following the principles of the business planning cycle (plan, do, review) the framework is a simple tool to follow and implement. You can download an overview of the Standard by clicking here.

 

Benefits

Benefits and positive results soon become apparent, whether you are working towards the Standard or progressing to being recognised again. Once recognised your business should benefit from:

	An improvement in recruitment and retention of staff.
	The ability to manage change, organisational development and team building.
	Skills, training and development that is relevant to your organisation and its objectives.
	Improved profits and productivity:
	Skilled and motivated people work harder and better.
	Reduced costs and wastage:
	Skilled and motivated staff constantly examine their work to contribute to reducing costs and wastage.
	Improved motivation of staff:
	Greater involvement, personal development and recognition of achievement leading to higher morale, improved retention rates, reduced absenteeism, greater acceptance of change and identification with the organisation beyond the confines of the job.
	Customer satisfaction:
	As employees become customer focused they effectively enable the organisation to meet customer needs at a profit.
	Public recognition:
	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.
	Competitive advantage:
	Improved performance gives you an advantage over competitors.

 

What Does It Involve?

Your journey to recognition:

An approved Investor in People Assessor will visit your organisation and interview a representative sample of people – this may include temporary staff, voluntary staff, school governors or anyone who makes a significant contribution to your organisation.

The Assessor will give you immediate feedback at the end of their visit, followed by a written report.

The evidence collected during interviews is not attributed to individual employees. Any reports or information made available to the assessor or resulting from the assessment are commercial in confidence between the organisation, the Assessor and Investors in People Scotland. You do not have to provide any “paper” evidence, although the Assessor will require details of the numbers of staff you employ and sufficient information to allow him or her to identify a representative staff sample to select for interview.

Positive recommendations from first time assessments are considered by a Recognition Panel made up of representatives from recognised organisations.

Once you have gained Investor in People status you will be reviewed at least every three years; although many organisations choose more frequent reviews to ensure they are keeping on the right track.