Developing the New Arrangements
Roles of Key Stakeholders
A number of decisions on the roles Investors in People UK, the LSC and the SBS will play in supporting Investors in People in the future have already been taken. These are that:
- Investors in People UK will continue to promote and develop the Standard, maintain its integrity and ensure independent quality assurance of delivery;
- the LSC will be responsible for the National Learning Targets (including those for Investors in People recognitions) and it will make arrangements for advice and guidance services to larger employers and to organisations other than business (for example schools and the voluntary sector). This may mean that the local arms of the LSC will contract with individuals or other providers (including SBS franchises who can provide support for non SMEs under contract); and
- the Small Business Service franchises (under contract to the LSC) will provide advice and support to small and medium businesses aiming for recognition as an Investor in People.
Assessment, Recognition and Practitioner Development
Ministers have recently agreed that:
- the arrangements for the assessment, recognition arrangements and practitioner development need to be rationalised; and
- the future organisation of assessment and recognition should be through assessment, recognition and practitioner development units, contracted to the LSC and licensed by Investors in People UK.
Through these changes we aim to:
- avoid the conflict of interest which would be caused by co-locating in one organisation the assessment function and the responsibility for targets;
- bring economies of scale in the provision of Investors in People assessment and recognition arrangements and practitioner development services;
- allow the LSC to influence the volume of assessments to maintain progress towards the national targets avoiding the direct provision of services (which could divert it from its primary role);
- give providers the opportunity to raise income from other sources assisting long term viability, deepening their range of expertise and improving cost effectiveness; and
- lead to greater levels of consistency and raise standards which will improve the quality of customer service.
