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How to become a Champion
Has your organisation got what it takes to become a Champion? Would you like to join our inspirational network to share best practice with other Champion organisations and inspire others to achieve Investors in People?
Champions are Investors in People UK's role model organisations. They champion the Standard and Profile and promote the programme through a series of best practice sharing activities.
Our Champions come from many different sectors including Education, Finance, Leisure, Health, Construction, Technology, Accountancy, Directory Services and Manufacturing. They also range in size from 9 to thousands of staff, giving us a resource relevant to any organisation interested in Investors in People.
The breadth of experience and diversity within our group of Champions gives us immense insight into the many ways of approaching challenges, in a truly practical and tested way.
Please note that Champion status is allotted to a limited number of organisations and therefore Investors in People UK will select the organisations that best support the objectives of the programme:
Recognise and reward those organisations who have been outstanding in promoting the values and principles of Investors in People and who have led by example in the way they manage and develop their people.Share and learn: to encourage the sharing and dissemination of good practice in people management and development, to maximise learning, support continuous improvement and raise performance.Champion the Standard: to encourage organisations to be more proactive in championing the Standard and Profile and by stimulating demand with customers and suppliers.
How long is Champion status for?
Champion status is held for three years. Upon completion, an organisation can reapply to the programme.
What are the benefits?
Investors in People UK: - Promote the Champion organisations nationally through Investors in People UK newsletters, websites, Partner communications, and via other agreed marketing and public relations activities
- Provide an opportunity to network with other Champion organisations and share best practices
- Promote Champion organisations and the Champion Programme within the Investors in People delivery network
- Invite Champions to Investors in people sponsored events
- Produce a case study on each Champion for inclusion in publicity material
- Provide each Champion with a plaque that is presented by a Director from Investors in People UK
- Provide each Champion with a Champion logo which can be used on internal and external communications
- Consult with Champions when developing new products and services
What is expected of a Champion Organisation?
- Deliver four best practice activities a year (presentations, mentoring or hosting a site visit) on areas of expertise to recognised and non-recognised organisations
- Encourage suppliers, where appropriate, to work with the Standard and Profile
- Promote Investors in People and the Best Practice Sharing programme via their company website or newsletters
- Contribute to the development of the Investors in People Standard, Profile and associated models
- Contribute to the drafting of a Champion case study
- Assist Investors in People UK in the evaluation of the Best Practice Sharing programme
- Actively participate in Champion networking through organised Development Days and via the dedicated Champion area of the Champion website
How do I apply?
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“Investors in People UK are currently reviewing how we take the Champions programme forward, so please register your details and we will come back to you with more information on how to apply by June at the latest. Please register by sending an email expressing your interest to applications@iipuk.co.uk or ring 020 7467 1911”
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What happens next?
Each organisation that applies will be assessed in the following process:
1. Phase I - Application submission:
The application form is available to download from this website. Applications will be accepted until Friday 27th April.
2. Phase II - Sifting & scoring:
Application forms will be scored against the Champion criteria by a team of 'sifters' from Investors in People UK.
The Champions criteria assesses whether your organisation:
- Is innovative & inspirational
- Is willing to share best practice with other organisations
- Is willing to learn from other organisations
- Is enthusiastic about and committed to the Champions programme
- Is actively championing the benefits of working with Investors in People
- Compliments Investors in People UK vision to "be the lead enabler of continuous business improvement through people management".
Applications scoring highly enough will advance to the site visit stage.
Applicants that do not advance to Phase III will receive written feedback on their application. This feedback will include points for further improvement. We would strongly encourage these organisations to talk to current Champions about their expertise and then to resubmit their application to be a Champion in 2008.
3. Phase III - Site Visits:
Investors in People UK and your Regional Quality Centre will liaise to access additional evidence about your organisation, for example they might examine copies of your assessment reports for the Standard or the Profile. Representatives from Investors in People UK and Quality Centres will arrange a time to visit your organisation. These visits will normally last approximately 2 hours and will give the representatives the chance to learn more about your organisation and to ask any questions they might have. A sample of the type of questions you might be asked is below:
• How has Investors in People benefited your organisation?
• What is your primary incentive for continuing to be assessed by Investors in People and can you provide examples?
• Have you identified any areas your organisation is targeting to improve in the future?
• What steps are you taking (or have taken) to implement changes/improvements as a result of your involvement with Investors in People?
• Do you have a system in place to evaluate whether you are meeting your goals/targets?
• What makes your organisation uniquely qualified to become a Champion organisation?
• What do you think your organisation will gain by becoming a Champion?
• The Champion status needs to be embraced company wide and not just by a single individual. How do you plan on instilling the commitment across your entire organisation?
• Best practice sharing with outside organisations and fellow Champions is at the core of being a Champion. In what ways do you plan on participating in this activity?
• What resources are you dedicating to best practice sharing and have you thought about how much time you plan on giving?
From these visits the representatives will decide whether your organisation should advance to Phase IV. Applicants that do not advance to Phase IV will receive written feedback on their application. This feedback will include points for further improvement and will reflect comments of the initial assessor and the people who visited the organisations. We would strongly encourage these organisations to talk to current Champions about their expertise and then to resubmit their application to be a Champion in 2008.
4. Phase IV - The National Awards Panel:
The last stage of the application process is the National Awards Panel on Thursday 11th October. The panel comprises current Champions, Regional Quality Centre Chief Executives and Investors in People UK Directors. The panel will meet and discuss their views of the organisations that reach Phase IV and will make a final decision on which of these should become Champions.
During the panel meeting all organisations that have reached Phase IV will be given the opportunity to present to the panel. Each organisation will be given a maximum of 30 minutes in front of the panel – 10 minutes for their presentation and 20 minutes for questions and answers. The presentation should reinforce why you think your organisation would be a good Champion.
Organisations will be contacted by panel members and informed of the decision. All applicants will receive detailed verbal feedback from a panel member.
5. Celebrations:
The Champions Awards Dinner takes place on the evening of 29th November 2007 at a venue which will be confirmed later in the year. Champions of 2007 will stay in a hotel, courtesy of Investors in People UK. Champions will have the option to invite a guest to the dinner, however there will be a charge for the guest.
During the day of 29th November, Champions of 2007 will meet with Champions of 2004, 2005 and 2006 at a development day. This is an opportunity to network with other Champions and to hear how these Champions have shared their best practice with other organisations.
Investors in People UK will contact Champions of 2007 to discuss other celebratory activities over activities, such as internal celebrations, best practice sharing and publicity. This will include the development of a customised case study profiling each Champion which will be used by Investors in People UK to promote Champions.
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