The client contacts either EMQC or their local Learning and Skills Council (LSC) or Business Link to arrange an assessment. If you are unsure whether Investors in People assessment is suitable for your organisation at this time, your LSC or Business Link will be able to provide impartial advice, and allocate an advisor to visit your organisation for more detailed assistance if desired. Once you have decided to undertake assessment you must complete a booking form. If you have already been in contact with your LSC then they may arrange this for you, otherwise you should return them directly to EMQC.

EMQC receives a booking form from the client or LSC/Business Link and records all details on to our database.

Based on the information received on the booking form EMQC provides an estimated cost and timescale for the service (this is known as scoping).

EMQC will appoint an assessor to undertake your assessment. A copy of the booking form and the estimated cost for the assessment is forwarded to the allocated assessor.

The assessor will contact the client and agree an onsite date for assessment, and also establish if there are any particular objectives or areas that they wish to focus on specifically during the assessment. The client may request a pre–visit from the assessor if they wish to discuss any part of the process in more detail but this may incur additional costs

The assessor will confirm details in writing to the client prior to the onsite visit including confirmation of the total cost. EMQC will also confirm details of the assessment in writing.

At the end of the onsite visit the assessor will provide verbal feedback to the client and inform them of the recommendation they will be making to Regional Recognition Panel, who will decide the outcome of the assessment based upon the assessors report and comments. If the organisation used an adviser during their assessment, it is desirable for them to be present during this feedback. The client can also request a formal feedback visit at a later date but an extra cost will be incurred.

When the onsite visit is completed the assessor will inform EMQC of their recommendation and will send in their report for Internal Verification (a quality measure to ensure that the Investors in People standards have been met by the assessor).

Remaining process for organisations undertaking first time assessments:

If the recommendation is positive the assessor report will be presented to a Regional Recognition Panel for the panel members to endorse the assessor’s decision.

If the outcome of the recognition panel is positive EMQC will send the client a congratulations letter along with an Investors in People plaque and a certificate to recognise their achievement. Their recognition lasts for a maximum of 3 years before a review assessment is required.

If the assessor decided that more evidence was required to meet all the criteria of the Investors in People standard then the report would be sent to EMQC for Internal Verification and sent directly to the client and the adviser. Another onsite visit would be arranged at a later date after all development points had been addressed.

Remaining process for organisations undertaking review assessments:

If the outcome is positive and the assessor recommends that the company continues to meet the Investors in People standard then the assessment report will again be sent to EMQC to be Internally Verified, after which it will be sent directly to the client with a congratulations letter, questionnaire and certificate.

If the outcome is that the company no longer meets the standard the Retaining Recognition Process must be followed, this process will be explained in full by the adviser and also by EMQC in writing.  The assessor will clearly identify the action that is required in his/her report which would again be Internally Verified by EMQC and issued directly to the client.