Investors in People (IiP)

Investors in People (IiP), why is it important? KPS believes that the only algorithm needed to promote, initiate and deploy high performance within our clients portfolio, programme's and projects is quite simply our high performance people. Through the Investors in People standard, KPS clearly demonstrates to its consultants and its clients that we are committed to ensuring KPS Consultants remain at the forefront of their area of specialism in addition to taking quality time to listen, understand, develop and nurture our employees needs. It is for this reason that KPS opted to be independently audited by Investors in People UK.

Is KPS Consultants an Investor in People (IiP)?

As of 23rd May 2007 KPS Consultants (KPS) was awarded status as a recognised Investor in People (IiP) organisation demonstrating KPS Consultants commitment to the Investors in People (IiP) UK Standard. View KPS Consultants Investor in People Certificate. Subsequently, KPS Consultants was presented with a unique Investors In People (IIP) Plaque on the 21st November 2007 held at a prestigious IIP awards ceremony in central london.

What is Investors in People (IiP)?

The Investors in People (IiP) Standard provides a framework that helps organisations to improve performance and realise objectives through the effective management and development of their people. To achieve Investor in People (IiP), employees need the right knowledge, skills and motivation to work efficiently and productively.

How does KPS being an Investor in People (IiP) add value to our clients and consultants?

Whilst some organisations may not see the value of accreditations such as Investor in People (IiP), KPS Consultants position is quite clear. Our priority has been, is and will always be to invest in our people whilst ensuring our employees not only have a share in any company successes but also have an opportunity to be involved at a strategic level, shaping the future of the company as we evolve together, slowly but surely.

A consistently increasing percentage of investment goes directly into our employees annual skill development targets and personal aspirations through our skill development programme in order that KPS Consultants maintain their superior position at the forefront of portfolio, programme, project, risk and change management. Being audited demonstrates KPS Consultants ongoing and unquestionable commitment to the development of its employee's whilst reciprocating it's thanks to all employees collectively for their outstanding performance and efforts on clients programmes and projects as well as internal business activities.

As a KPS Consultant once said to the Managing Director “KPS Consultants Managing Director has been of great support to not only me, but the rest of the team. He shows true dedication and passion to everything he puts his mind to. I feel that I have excelled in my own role due to his caring nature and drive to want others to succeed as he has. KPS Consultants Managing Director knows when someone has it ‘in them’, and when they do, he knows how to get it ‘out of them’. He is a great leader and role model!”

Being awarded Investor in People is the Managing Directors response to the comment above, which has never been forgotten.

KPS Consultants believes that being an Investor in People (IiP) organisation adds considerable value and benefits to our clients and consultants in the following areas:

Improved Customer Satisfaction - The Investors in People drives employees to become customer focused, enabling KPS Consultants to effectively meet their customer needs.
Improved Performance and Productivity - Skilled and motivated people achieve better performance and productivity.
Improved Motivation - Motivation is improved through employees' greater involvement, personal development and recognition of their achievements. This leads to higher morale, improved retention rates, reduced absenteeism, readier acceptance of change and identification with KPS Consultants goals beyond the confines of the day job.
Reduced Costs and Wastage - Skilled and motivated people constantly examine their work to contribute towards reducing costs and wastage.
Enhanced Quality - Investing in people significantly improves the results of quality in services and adds considerable value to ISO 9000:2000 which KPS Consultants have also been awarded.
Improved Job Satisfaction - A positive and supportive working environment, where employees are given the opportunity to increase their responsibility and involvement within KPS Consultants Ltd.
Skill and Career Development - Training and supporting employee's skills gaps can be met by providing the resources to unlock their true full potential.
Public Recognition - Investor in People status brings public recognition for real achievements measured against a rigorous National Standard. Being an Investor in People also helps to attract the best quality job applicants.

Investors in People (IiP) UK Assessor's Report and Statements

The Investors in People (IiP) UK Assessor issued an assessment report with the following statements:

The report had been prepared for Nish Kotecha, Managing Director and Maya Kotecha, Operations Director following an independent on site assessment against the Investors in People UK Standard.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone I spoke to and met at KPS Consultants Ltd for their cooperation during the assessment and their very kind hospitality. In particular I would like to thank Maya Kotecha for the excellent way in which she organised the information requested and interviews - Investors in People UK Assessor.

KPS Consultants is operating in a competitive market. One of its main challenges is to secure clients in direct competition with large players such as Accenture, in a market characterised by high value and high-risk decisions. Potential clients will spend significant sums on consultancy and therefore persuading them to make their decision takes considerable time and effort. KPS Consultants reputation derives from demonstrating its ability to achieve the highest qualifications and recognitions such as one of the worlds first organisations to be recommended by the Office of Government Commerce (OGC). This means that KPS must get the best from its consultants, a look at the company’s web site clearly demonstrates the focus on excellent results from people development, and its wider people management activity.

The on-site visit demonstrated that KPS Consultants Ltd meets the evidence of requirements of the Investors in People UK Standard.

Areas of strength and good practice characteristics or features found during the course of the site visit. These are recognised as being of good practice or exceeding the requirements of the Investors in People Standard

Inspirational leadership - demonstrated through role modelling the commitment to own learning shown by Directors.
Very inclusive culture in an organisation that demonstrably seeks to practice what it preaches - everyone lives the company's mission and values.
Involvement in the strategic planning of the business - through event planning such as the Best Practice Roadshow, intranet discussions, one to ones, team meetings, checkpoints, away days etc.
Commitment to effective communication - using intranet to record key information, flag up key issues, briefings, bulletins.
Using innovative ways for development and feedback - shadowing, monitoring and sharing client feedback via the Performance Improvement Programme system and processes based on Key Performance Indicators (KPI's) and clients comments.
Encouraging bottom up feedback - using the existing PIP (Performance Improvement Programme) - Directors/Managers/Mentors seek feedback from employees.
Strong focus on encouraging individual and collective learning and development - supporting each other and spreading the role, i.e. through mentoring, shadowing, training, workshops and away days.
Very committed team - everyone looks out for the welfare of others, people love their jobs.
The company has a thoughtful and thorough approach to recruitment.
KPS Consultants' directors are good role models for learning. A look at the web site, where certifications are listed, clearly demonstrates this.
There is an annual Business Plan, which outlines the goals and challenges. It has clear and measurable objectives. The strategic focus is defined by the MD and shared within the company via the Operations Director. Consultants have the opportunity to discuss the Business Plan.
Everyone interviewed had a very clear view of their role and how it contributed to the success of KPS Consultants. They talked knowledgeably about their objectives and how these were reflected in their day-to-day work activities.
KPS Consultants makes good use of intranet applications to record key risks and issues and changes to strategy and plans and in communicating between everyone. The clarity of shared views is impressive.
There is an impressive clarity of understanding about the purpose of learning and what it will achieve for the individual and the company.
All the people interviewed clearly find that they work in a culture that is empowering and they are encouraged to take appropriate decisions. For example, one commented 'I'm putting together my proposed workshop funded by the company – its nice to be involved at a strategic level' Clearly this level of decision-making affects the performance of the organisation at all levels.
The Operations Director explained that KPS Consultants ensures people take advantage of appropriate activities to meet their self learning and development needs. Employee's were able to confirm that their learning and development needs had been met, explained what they had learnt from undertaking development activities and described how they had applied this in their role.
Feedback from clients is clear evidence and confirmation that what KPS Consultants do makes a difference.

Some comments made by individual KPS Consultants during Investors in People (IiP) Interviews

All KPS Consultants were interviewed individually and separately during the Investor in People UK assessment in the absence of Directors or Managers. Employees were very complimentary about the management style and practice at KPS Consultants. Employees confirmed that there is a great deal of positive and helpful feedback. Comments from KPS Consultants included:

'KPS Directors explain things thoroughly and have very good people skills.'
'KPS Consultants is an inclusive organisation'
'KPS Directors are great and will do anything for the team'
'We all have a very strong annual skill development programme in place. I'm able to assess where I am and can change things to fit'
'The Directors are very willing to take a mitigated risk, if we have an idea they say let's run with it'
'They always keep us informed, up-to-date and always support what we do'
'KPS Consultants' Directors are great, truly inspirational leaders'