How much does it cost?

The main cost will be in staff time - seeing how you measure up to the Standard and working out what changes you need to make and then putting those changes into practice. You will have a more clear idea of potential costs once your organisation has had an initial assessment to identify what changes need to be made. The other costs to consider include external help i.e. additional assessment activity, training on Investors in People for staff, and the services of an Adviser. Advisers have a set rate per day which will be included in their portfolio and is charged through the GTA University Centre.

How long does it take?

This will depend on the type and complexity of changes you need to make within your organisation and how quickly you can put them into practice, plus the internal resources available to you. If you adopt a project approach, it takes on average 4 months for an organisation to become an Investor in People.

Can you do it yourself?

All the paperwork is clear and concise so that organisations may check how they measure against the Standard. If you do want advice or support, you can contact the GTA University Centre. The only time it is a requirement to involve other people will be when you are ready for assessment, which is carried out by an independent assessor.

Is there a lot of paperwork?

Investors in People is about results - the Standard doesn't specify WHAT you need to do to achieve success, and you don't have to provide any extra paperwork. As long as you are achieving the results/benefits that the indicators are looking for, it doesn't matter how you get there. For example some organisations find staff appraisal very effective but you may have alternative ways of developing your people - its your results that count. The Assessor will only ask to see existing documentation such as a business plan and learning/development related documents.

What kind of organisations want to achieve the Standard?

All kinds, from small sized businesses (minimum number of 2 staff) to large organisations in both private and public sectors. Over 40,000 organisations worldwide have either achieved the Standard or are working towards it.

What countries work with the Standard?

Investors in People is an International Standard that is continually entering new markets. Although originally from the UK, the Standard now operates in many European countries such as Denmark, France, the Netherlands and as far afield as New Zealand and Bermuda. A full list of countries working with Investors in People is available on the UK website.

How can you make sure Investors in People works?

Support from senior management is crucial to success, and ensuring that everybody in the organisation understands the benefit of becoming an Investor in People. It is important to treat Investors in People as part of your organisation's culture rather than a separate project.

What is the best way for an organisation to implement the Standard?

This will depend on the organisation itself, but the more emphasis and commitment at the beginning of the process, the quicker the Standard will be achieved. Through experience, the most time efficient and cost-effective way is

    * Ensure senior management are fully briefed and supportive of the initiative and that someone has been chosen to lead the project (Internal Facilitator).
    * Undergo an initial assessment against the Standard to highlight the areas needing improvement - this can be done by your own staff, an Investors in People Adviser, or by having an early Assessment.
    * Assemble an internal project team who will maintain momentum - this may involve some training in the Standard for the project team members and key people in your organisation.
    * As and when required, employ the services of a registered Investors in People Adviser to provide focused solutions and experience that may not be available internally.

Will the assessor understand your organisation?

Assessors are chosen for their broad business background and generally work as independent consultants. The quality of their work is managed by a Quality Centre that matches up the size or complexity of an organisation with their experience.

When will we know we are ready to go forward for our recognition assessment?

When you have completed all the changes highlighted for action in the initial assessment. You can achieve this by adopting an approach of continuous assessment combined with good use of external advisory services where appropriate.

What happens if we're not ready for assessment when we thought we would be?

You should aim for assessment as early as possible - even if you're not quite ready, it will provide an opportunity to see what progress you have made and any what else you need to do to reach the Standard in full. You will also find it useful to have some quality feedback from an independent viewpoint.

Do we get more than one chance to achieve Investors in People?

Yes. If your assessor decides you need to improve in one or two areas before you can become an Investor in People, you will agree how and when you can achieve them and arrange when you should be reassessed.

What happens after we achieve Investors in People?

To maintain recognition as an Investor in People, organisations must be re-assessed within 3 years. Between 12 - 15 months is the ideal period for re-assessment and planning it at a time that will deliver maximum benefit in terms of feedback to your organisation is important.

Can Investors in People help you to achieve other quality standards?

Yes. Investors in People is the only standard in the world that focuses on people and is assessed on the effectiveness of business processes i.e. the outcomes rather than the processes themselves. As such, the good practices that you follow to become an Investor in People will dovetail well with other quality standards such as ISO 9000 and the Business Excellence Model.