Robert Macleod, MD of Assessment North East takes a look at the positive effects of change and utilising Investors in People to help plan for future success.

Emily Cox, Solicitor, Employment Team, Dickinson Dees LLP reviews the implications for employees of the current expenses crisis in parliament.

HR Consultant and former ACAS Advisor Steve Cave looks at the implications of inter office romance.

Investors in People launch a new approach to delivering flexible, practical and personal business improvement support to employers of all types and sizes. They are also unveiling an expanded framework to deliver depth and breadth expertise and new forms of recognition, which acknowledge employers commitment to continuous improvement.

Investors in People introduce a new more consultative and personalised approach to working with the framework to drive your organisation forward.

It's your choice: The Standard and beyond at Bowburn Hall Hotel, Durham
23rd June 2009
6th August 2009

Internal Champions - Jupiter Centre, BIC Sunderland
24th, 30th June and 1st July
4th, 11th and 12th August
22nd, 29th and 30th September

The University of Sunderland demonstrate how they use the Investors in People framework to maintain a culture of continuous improvement using the rolling review.

 More than 30,000 health workers in the North East are involved in an ambitious project to use the UK's leading business improvement tool to strengthen the sector through its people. Latest results at the Healthcare 100 awards support this approach with the top 3 using Investors in People and the winner having maintained their recognition for over 10 years.

Ascend, Assessment North East's Leadership and Management Development Centre and a SFEDI Centre of Excellence, has been successful in winning a national contract to assess Construction Skills Sector Business Advisors against SFEDI standards. Key feedback comments from the Sector Skills Council included the high level of support on offer to those being assessed and the mentoring, as opposed to auditing, role the Assessors play.

Helena Partnership a Registered Provider of housing in Merseyside are the first Residential Social Landlord to achieve the Lexcel accreditation.

Consider the motivational factor of being able to offer people leaving the company a development programme. Imagine giving those same individuals the confidence to apply for a position either equivalent to the one they currently hold, or possibly a step up the ladder with a qualification in hand. Much has been said over the last few months about the economic climate and the sad impact on business but this is not my focus. What I will focus on is the development opportunities available, in the main funded, to those team members while they are still in post. Good news indeed.