01/12/2004

Revised investors in people standard launched

The Minister for Employment and Learning, Barry Gardiner, has welcomed the launch of the new version of the Investors in People Standard and emphasised its potential impact on local employers.

Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Charles Clarke, recently launched the revised IiP that aims to build on the benefits brought to over 35,000 UK businesses in the past 12 years.

Paying tribute to over 800 IiP recognised organisations in Northern Ireland, the Minister said, "businesses that invest in their people do better".

“Northern Ireland employers recognise the link between workforce development and productivity and a significant number are playing their part in creating a knowledge and skills-based economy," he said. "This latest version of the Investors in People Standard, designed to meet the changing needs of business in today’s economy, continues to provide employers with the opportunity to identify skills development needs and improve bottom-line business performance.”

Stressing the need for all employers in Northern Ireland to improve their businesses by increasing skills, the Minister challenged employers who recognise the link between the knowledge and skills of their people, and the productivity of their businesses, to use IiP to help improve business performance and raise the skills levels of the NI workforce.

A business improvement tool that helps organisations to compete and succeed through improved people performance, the IiP framework is designed to help organisations develop the knowledge and skills of their people appropriately.

The new version of the IiP Standard is the product of a comprehensive process of consultation, review and market testing with a wide range of stakeholders.

(SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

16 August 2006
NI employment figures on the rise
Employment in Northern Ireland has risen to a record high and the unemployment rate remains below the UK average, it has today been announced. Figures for the period between April - June 2006, estimate that there were approximately 769,000 people in employment in Northern Ireland, the highest figure on record to date.
15 October 2014
DEL Launches 'Connected' Phase 3
The third phase of the Department for Employment and Learning’s 'Connected' programme has been launched today. Funded by the Department, Connected is delivered by Queen’s University, the University of Ulster and the six further education (FE) colleges. The scheme aims to assist businesses improve performance by providing access to support services.
26 September 2012
Employers Must Support New Employment Scheme
Employers must collaborate with the Executive to create opportunities and placements in order to support the young and unemployed, according to Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry. Dr Farry was addressing employers at a breakfast seminar in the Titanic Signature building this morning.
30 June 2023
50 Belfast Residents Celebrate Employment Academy Success
Belfast City Council has hosted a celebration event for more than 50 local residents' who recently completed Employment Academies in the varied sectors of Construction, Fibre, Hospitality and Leisure, Transport and Working at Sea.
22 December 2023
Over 60 NI Businesses Support New Young People Initiative
More than 60 businesses from across Northern Ireland have announced their joint support for enterprise education charity, Young Enterprise (YE), which aims to support the next generation of Northern Irish entrepreneurs. With the support of the business community, YE has announced the launch of their new Business Backers campaign.