So while there were some refinements to Mill House systems, the real benefit of Investors in People has come from the way new disciplines are followed. We are now much more critical of external training and have improved both our planning and our evaluation. Mill House has introduced a very methodical system of reporting and exchanging information following attendance at courses. Vets and nurses used to go away on a course, come back fired up and then gradually the energy would peter out. Now, following Investors in People, staff always write up an action plan on their return and that is regularly reviewed.
Training is an item on the agenda of every meeting.
So, while these disciplines take time, they are useful in the long run and ultimately mean that the investment in training is more cost-effective. Equally important, Carole Clarke believes that employers cannot escape the obligation they have to their staff. Staff appraisals may be time-consuming but, frankly, you HAVE to make time for them.