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Investors in People UK manage the development, marketing, promotion and quality assuring the Investors in People Standard, Models and Profile.
Investors in People also have the day to day departments that are required to manage a business (HR/ Finance and Business support).
What do Investors in People do?
It is the vision at Investors in People UK to deliver continuous business improvement to organisations through the development of business improvement tools enabling people management and people development within the UK.
Their mission statement sets out that:
"Working in partnership we will help organisations and people throughout the UK to improve their productivity and performance and realise their full potential”
Their remit?
Investors in People UK is a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Education and Skills, established in 1994. Annual remit letters are issued by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which reinforce the role and priorities of Investors in People UK.
As per these remit letters, Investors in People UK continues to focus on:
- Increasing the number of employees working within organisations working with Investors in People, helping to improve the productivity of the UK through people development.
- Protecting the integrity of the Investors in People Standard.
- Maintaining, reviewing and developing the Standard to ensure its continued relevance through appropriate research, consultation and evaluation.
- Ensuring and monitoring the quality of the Standard.
- Developing skills and best practice within the Delivery Network.
- Promoting the Standard and providing an information service to the public.
- Developing and maintaining a central database of organisations committed to or recognised as Investors in People so that timely and accurate information can be produced.
- Licensing the Regional Quality Centres and practitioners.
How Investors in People do this?
At Investors in People UK they are committed to delivering their vision and their mission.
Their priorities are to continue to support their customers, work with their delivery partners and key stakeholders to support the delivery of Investors in People and engage with new customers.
Their approach and way of working is focussed on the delivery of operational programmes which underpin their support and vision. The focus of the programmes support getting more organisations and people involved with Investors in People and ensuring that those already working with Investors in People continue to do so.
Their operational programmes capitalise on the flexibility of cross-team working, enabling individual’s skills and experiences to be used to their full potential.
The Scottish Quality Management System (SQMS) was first launched in 1993 as a harmonised quality management framework for vocational education and training in Scotland.The 1996 SQMS Early Impact Review commissioned by Scottish Enterprise highlights its great strength as a quality development framework for providers of vocational education and training and points the way toward establishing SQMS as a truly national, and potentially international, standard.
SQMS draws on and brings together quality criteria operated by key agencies: Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Local Enterprise Companies, the Scottish Qualifications Authority and the Scottish Executive Education and Lifelong Learning Department. It is recognised for its support of the UK Competitiveness agenda which calls for quality certification bodies to work together to recognise each other’s standards, including Investors in People, BS EN ISO 9001 and other quality standards.
Interest in using SQMS to meet organisational and business objectives continues to grow at home and abroad amongst a range of potential users. For example, SQMS forms the basis of the European Quality Standards (a toolkit for continuous quality development) which is a European Commission-funded Leonardo Project that aims to improve the quality of vocational education and training across Europe to support the economic objectives in all members states.
The SQMS Standards Council, comprising of representatives of the national partners and key stakeholders in Scotland, is delighted to present this third edition of SQMS to the vocational education and training market, including employers. It has been revised to take account of feedback from users and their various client groups.
The members of the Standards Council would like to record their thanks to all who have contributed to the implementation and development of SQMS and allowed us to learn from the widespread use of the standards for quality assurance and development.
The Standards Council is fully committed to the ongoing development of SQMS as a key means of ensuring continuous quality improvement in the supply of vocational education and training to meet the needs of businesses and individual learners. SQMS will continue to make a valuable contribution to the prosperity of Scotland.
OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations) is a leading UK awarding body, committed to providing qualifications that engage learners of all ages at school, college, in work or through part-time learning programmes to achieve their full potential.
OCR offer a wide range of General and Vocational qualifications that equip learners with the knowledge and skills they need for their future.
OCR work with a range of education providers including schools, colleges, workplaces and other institutions in the public and private sector. Over 13,000 Centres choose their A Levels, GCSEs and vocational qualifications including OCR Nationals, NVQs and Basic Skills.
OCR develop their qualifications in close consultation with teachers, industry leaders and government to ensure they are relevant for learners today and meet requirements set by QCA.
OCR support providers to deliver their qualifications and ensure their customers have access to professional training, support materials, publications, telephone contact with OCR advisors and online access to guidance at their websites.
City & Guilds is the UK’s leading provider of vocational qualifications, awarding over 1.3 million certificates every year. We offer over 500 qualifications spanning 22 occupational sectors and at all levels from Basic Skills and pre-entry qualifications to awards that recognise professional achievement at the highest levels.
The FSB is the largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Formed in 1974, it now has over 210,000 members across 33 regions and 230 branches. On the member benefits side, it offers assistance and support 24 hours a day, while its lobbying arm - led by the Westminster Press and Parliamentary office - applies pressure on MPs, Government and Whitehall, lobbies politicians in their constituencies and puts the FSB viewpoint over to the media.
One of the major benefits is the FSB's legal helpline which operates 24 hours a day. Last year, the helpline received over 100,000 calls, the majority of calls on employment matters but also dealing with issues such as commercial contract, landlord and tenant and consumer affairs.
The FSB also has Press and Parliamentary Offices in Glasgow, Cardiff and Belfast to lobby the devolved assemblies on behalf of members. Area Policy Development Officers work alongside Regional Development Agencies to further FSB influence at the regional level.
The FSB is in an ideal position to influence policy with its direct access to politicians and civil servants in Westminster and Whitehall. In addition the FSB has access to the European Commission through their office in Brussels.
Vision
A community that recognises, values and adequately rewards the endeavours of those who are self employed and small business owners within the UK
Mission Statement
To be and remain the largest and most effective organisation promoting and protecting the interest of the self employed and small business owners within the UK.
IOSH is Europe's leading body for health and safety professionals. IOSH have over 31,000 members worldwide, including more than 11,500 Chartered Safety and Health Practitioners.
The Institution was founded in 1945 and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that sets professional standards, supports and develops members and provides authoritative advice and guidance on health and safety issues. IOSH is formally recognised by the ILO as an international non-governmental organisation.
What do IOSH do?
Influencing the profession
IOSH believe that offering communicated expert advice from competent safety and health practitioners is an essential component in defining the safety, health and welfare policies of employers.
By encouraging, facilitating and leading communication of good practices and expertise, IOSH aim to promote awareness of health and safety matters in the workplace and ensure that high standards are achieved, and maintained.
Working with UK governments
IOSH is the conduit for knowledge, opinion and research on many important matters affecting the health and safety profession, and is often consulted by government departments for members' views on draft legislation, codes of practice and other government initiatives.
IOSH aim to ensure that their members have a strong and effective voice which influences health and safety related issues with governments, employers and trades unions.
Working with Europe
IOSH aims to increase its contribution within the European Community and explore ways in which it can more directly influence European directives and guidance.
IOSH also aim to work with committees of national and international standards-making bodies, advancing research and pro-actively assisting the dissemination of knowledge throughout the wider European community and accession states.
Skills Development Scotland is Scotland's main economic development agency, funded by the Scottish Government. Their mission is to help the people and businesses of Scotland succeed. In doing so, we aim to build a world-class economy.
Their key priorities are to provide a range of high-quality services to:
- help new businesses get underway;
- support and develop existing businesses;
- help people gain the knowledge and skills they will need for tomorrow's jobs; and
- help Scottish businesses develop a strong presence in the global economy - building on Scotland's reputation as a great place to live, work and do business.
As well as companies and individuals, Skills Development Scotland also work with universities, colleges, local authorities and other public sector bodies to achieve these goals.
Smart, Successful Scotland: our strategy for the future.
The Scottish Executive has set out its strategic vision to guide the strategy and operations of Skills Development Scotland. The vision is for a Smart, Successful Scotland, a Scotland where creating, learning and connecting faster is the basis for sustained productivity growth, competitiveness and prosperity. The role of the Enterprise Networks will be central to delivering this vision. The action needed to achieve a Smarter Scotland translate into three key organising themes for the activities of the Enterprise Networks.
Growing businesses
Scotland: a fast learning, high earning nation
Global connections
Scotland: a globally connected nation
Learning and skills
Every Scot ready for tomorrow's jobs
