Investors in People: Market-Led Voluntarism in Vocational Education and Training

Abstract

Introduced in the UK in 1991, Investors in People (IiP) provides a benchmark for good training practice. It has become a central feature of the UK government's vocational education and training policy. This article aims to broaden the debate relating to IiP in two ways: first, by reviewing the existing evidence on recognition rates and its impact on training activity; and second, by exploring the new directions that IiP is taking in terms of its redesign and its overseas adoption. Finally, we consider the research agenda and the policy implications that arise from the review.