A war of words has broken out over the value of Investors in People (IIP) after a study claimed there was little tangible evidence that IIP accreditation leads to any commercial benefit.
The International School of Human Capital Management – part of consultancy Valuentis – claimed that, as a private company, IIP has been supported by £32m of public funds since 1997. In 2004-05 it received £5m in direct grants and aid from the Department for Education and Skills, of which £1.8m was spent on marketing, £1.6m on staff and £900,000 on administration.
“This would suggest that IIP is primarily a marketing agency, rather than a standard setter,” the report said. “Questions need to be raised regarding its remit and positioning, particularly in light of what amounts to a state-funded monopoly.”
Ruth Spellman, chief executive of IIP, hit back at the claims, and insisted that the organisation brings real business benefits. She said research showed that IIP-accredited companies were twice as profitable as non-accredited organisations.
