13 April 2000

NEW IIP IS AS SIMPLE AS A,B,C.....................

A new version of Investors in People (IiP) unveiled today is as simple as A, B, C, according to the Chairman of the Training and Employment Agency, Bill McGinnis OBE.

Speaking as he announced details of the new version, Bill McGinnis said that the famous IiP badge was now more Accessible, offered Better value and was Clearer and more concise.

He explained: "The value of IiP towards developing individuals, companies and indeed communities is now well and truly established.

"However, like the people and businesses it seeks to develop, the IiP standard itself cannot stand still - it has to evolve to offer greater accessibility, relevance and additional value.

"That is exactly what the new version we are introducing today aims to achieve. It has come about as the result of an extensive 18 month consultation period and the most significant difference is that it focuses on organisations' achievements rather than processes."

Mr McGinnis said that while the fundamental premise behind IiP remains the same - the key to better organisational performance is to improve people performance - the new version is expressed in a clearer and more concise language than before. It also expressly identifies the need to provide employees with equality of opportunity to training and development.

He added: "Today's announcement is good news for the 400 organisations in Northern Ireland that are currently working towards IiP and others that are thinking about it.

"But it is also good news for the 330 plus local organisations that have already achieved IiP status because it gives them the option of working with additional modules that extend IiP principles of good practice across a range of management functions.

"The bottom line is quite simple - IiP has always been good for people and good for business. Now it is even better."

NOTES TO EDITORS:

IiP was launched in 1991 as the national standard that sets a level of good practice for improving an organisation through its people. It is applicable to organisations in all sectors with 2 or more employees.

Over 330 organisations in Northern Ireland have currently achieved IiP status with a further 485 committed towards achieving that goal.

The review of the existing IiP standard took place between October 1998 and January 2000 and involved consultation with over 1,500 employers throughout the UK. From now until 31 December 2000, organisations can be assessed against the old or new version of IiP.

Further media enquiries to Simon Burrowes on 028 90257831 or

0850 976067.