More frequent reviews offer greater partnership and engagement
Annual Review is one alternative to a 3-yearly cycle of Investors in People reviews. Rather than waiting for the full three years for a review of the organisation, the Assessor and organisation work together to undertake reviews on an annual basis. As the evidence from the previous review is still likely to be valid, annual review visits tend to be of a 'lighter touch' than the full three year version. The frequency of contact offers a number of real advantages to the organisation, for example it is particularly suited to organisations seeking to build successive grades of advanced recognition or to closely match the review process to their business priorities year by year.
Features
- An annual review is scheduled, planned for and undertaken within the same core principles as if it were every three years, but the Assessor's sample will be lighter for areas tested the year before.
- If you add new areas to be assessed (additional requirements from the wider framework, for example to achieve an advanced grade of recognition) the Assessor still needs to explore these across the whole organisation.
- Because the Assessor is confirming at each annual visit that the Standard (and any extra measures achieved the year before) is still being met, the outcome is treated as a full review and thus allows you to achieve additional recognition - gold, silver or bronze - in successive years.
- Annual Review is different to Rolling Review - in the latter, the Assessor builds up evidence over three years, and thus there is not an 'official' outcome (Standard met / not met, plus any advanced grade awarded) until the three year point. Under Annual Review, each visit confirms that the whole organisation is still meeting the whole Standard, and therefore a met / not met / advanced grade outcome is recorded.
- Annual contact allows the Assessor to ensure that the focus of the process reflects your specific goals, concerns and issues of the moment - delivering better value feedback for your organisation.
An example of Annual Review in practice
| Successful Assessment or Review | Annual Review Year 1 | Annual Review Year 2 | Annual Review Year 3 | Annual Reviews Years 4 + |
| Core standard met - investors in People Recognition confirmed. | Light touch revisit to ensure core Standard continues to be met, plus assessment against additional requirements to achieve Bronze status | Light touch revisit to core Standard and extra measures already met, plus assessing extra requirements to achieve Silver status | Light touch of all requirements met last year, plus assessment of extra requirements to achieve Gold status | Light touch maintenance reviews to ensure Gold status continues to be maintained |
Benefits
- Our feedback and recommendations are much more closely targeted at your objectives and major concerns at the time - keeping pace with your evolving priorities.
- The Assessor develops a much more intimate understanding of your organisation and how to help you improve performance further
- Investors in People is kept 'live' and real in the organisation, with the reviews becoming a more powerful part of your own improvement strategy
- Your people will become more comfortable and less 'phased' by the review experience, enabling them to give richer and more valuable feedback
- If you are exploring measures beyond the core Standard with a view to achieving an advanced grade of Recognition, Annual Review allows you to achieve successive grades in successive years - for example, Bronze in Year 1, Silver Year 2, Gold at the end of Year 3.
- As the last visit will have taken place no more than a year ago, the Assessor can adopt a 'light touch' approach to the positive evidence uncovered at that stage, focussing their efforts on new areas or measures, as well as on your organisational priorities and goals
- The three year Recognition period is refreshed after every successful review, so if you decide to come away from Annual Review, you have three years until another review is mandatory.
For further information contact the IBP Helpline on 0800 612 3098 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
