Investors in People UK was formed in 1991 to protect the integrity of the Investors in People framework and was closed in March 2010. It was a non-departmental public body and received funding from the UK Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The organisation was based in London, United Kingdom and managed the development, policy, promotion and quality assurance of the Investors in People framework. From April 2010 UK Commission for Employment and Skills is responsible for the strategic ownership of Investors in People.
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Central to the Investors in People framework is The Standard. It has 39 outcome-based evidence requirements [1] which make up the plan, do, review cycle [2] . Organisations need to meet these 39 evidence requirements to be recognised as an Investor in People.
In 2009, Investors in People UK launched a new approach for customers [3]. In addition to The Standard, organisations can now work with an extended framework offering additional areas and focus to meet their individual business needs. Organisations meeting these further evidence requirements are rewarded with Gold, Silver or Bronze recognition dependent on the number of evidence requirements [4] .
Investors in People Centres, previously called Quality Centres, were launched in April 2001. There are 12 Investors in People Centres in the United Kingdom and an International Centre. Their overall remit is to offer, manage and quality assure Investors in People assessment services to organisations in their region. They also have a key role in developing Investors in People advisors and assessors.
All Investors in People Centres are licensed and quality assured by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills.
Investors in People has license agreements in nearly twenty countries worldwide, including Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Australasia. The organisation works closely with the International Centre to ensure that the Investors in People framework is delivered consistently via all overseas licence holders.