People power works

All companies which have carried out the Investors In People (IIP) accreditation process have noticed a major improvement in profitability and staff satisfaction, a survey found this week.

The survey, carried out by City law firm Fox Williams through its employment law Web site, questioned 500 clients and found that almost half of the respondents who had not achieved IIP accreditation considered that the time and cost involved in the process outweighed the potential benefits.

However, every single respondent who had actually achieved IIP found improvements in profitability, client satisfaction, staff morale, training and employee appraisals.Ronnie Fox, senior partner of Fox Williams, which was IIP accredited earlier this month, said experience of applying for IIP was very helpful.

'It made us consider aspects of the firm which we do not always think about, such as our business plan and how we develop and train people.' Mr Williams added that firms which had achieved the IIP standard would find it easier to achieve Lexcel, the Law Society's quality mark.

'Lexcel has a broader base than IIP, as it also deals with external client relations, but IIP is certainly a help in that process,' he said.

Victoria MacCallum