Investors in People (IIP) and government learning agency Ufi have
established a three-year agreement which aims to realise both organisations’
aims of increasing productivity of the UK economy by developing the skills of
the workforce.
Ufi is the organisation responsible for Learndirect, now the biggest
government-backed e-learning development in the world with more than 2,000
centres across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
A practical framework for joint working in key areas is being mapped out and
the agreement will formalise a number of shared principles.
"Working in partnership with Investors in People UK gives Ufi
opportunities to share resources in key areas like research," said Ufi
chief executive Ann Limb. "It will also give us increased access to
employers allowing us to further develop good practice and reach even more
learners."
Joint promotional initiatives are likely to include raising awareness during
Adult Learners’ Week and research projects into business improvement and the
role of e-learning.
The alliance will also be focusing on two key areas identified by the
Government: increasing take-up of Skills for Life courses covering literacy,
numeracy and IT, and building relationships with small- and medium-sized enterprises
(SMEs).
"Ufi has a strong track record in helping improve people’s
employability and organisations’ productivity, particularly with SMEs and new
and excluded learners," said Limb. "With more than 1.2 million people
in the UK having taken a Learndirect course, it is clear that supported
e-learning is now an extremely effective tool in addressing the UK skills
deficit."
Investors in People UK chairwoman Ruth Spellman said the agreement marked
the start of a new direction for its Investors in People (IIP) standard, which
aims to provides a framework for improving performance and competitiveness
through good practice in people development.
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"We hope the relationship will further promote the take-up of the IIP
standard, increase productivity and improve the bottom line for UK
businesses," she said.
