IiD Level 1
Level 1 Investors in Diversity
Feedback
tells us that many organisations view having the Investors in Diversity
accreditation as highly desirable for a whole range of different
reasons. Many of them know that having equality and diversity
credentials is going to be an essential requirement when applying for
public sector contracts in the future.
Others know that Public
authorities have to conduct equality impact assessments for policies in
relation to how they work with suppliers and contractors and at some
stage that they themselves might be required to complete their own
equality impact assessments which is one of the things that Investors
in diversity helps to do.
However, it has become evident that there are a number of barriers for some. For some organisations, the costs are just too high. This issue is getting worse the further we get into the current recession.
Some organisations feel that they would like to have external accreditation of their work. Others want to try to benchmark their work against other similar organisations or in the context of a particular sector. Others aren’t so confident and want to establish a base-line position so they take can their first steps along the journey to equality, diversity and inclusion. Some tell us that they would like an entry–level of the Investors in Diversity standard.
Whatever
the motivation, the National Centre for Diversity has always gone to
great lengths to try to ensure that investors in Diversity should be
accessible for all. However, the structure of having fully trained and
developed Investors in Diversity practitioners, all of whom were paid
at negotiated fixed rates of pay meant that we had/have very little
room for flexibility in terms of the costs.
As a result of
consultations with numerous parties, we have developed a much lighter
touch version of the Investors in Diversity which the National Centre
for Diversity will treat as ‘Level 1’ of the Investors in Diversity
Standard.
The requirements will not be as stringent as the full
Investors in Diversity standard, nor will it take as long. Typically an
organisation would take between 4-12 weeks.
Once an
organisation has achived the award they will be presented with a
Certificate which will state that they have been externally assessd by
the National Centre for Diversity as having attained 'Level 1 Investors
in Diversity'. They will also be allowed to use a new 'Level 1
Investors in Diversity' logo.
Why should you want to achieve the Level 1 Investors in Diversity standard?
- The
Equalities Bill of 2008 is paving the way for new legislation that will
make it mandatory to have Equality/Diversity accreditation/credentials
in order to get public secror funding/contracts.
- You may want to carry out a baseline - impact assesssment on the equality, diversity and inclusion policies, practices and procedures in your organisation.
- The assessment is carried out independently by the National Centre for Diversity and so external validation will have real credibility with your staff and external stakeholders such as funders, service users or customers, pupils and parents.
- The assessment process and the report that we will present to you will help you identify areas which help you to raise standards and quality in your organisation.
- The time-scales are much quicker than going for Investors in Diversity which typically organisations take 8-18 months to achieve. You could get Level 1 Investors in Diversity within 4-12 weeks.
- Level 1
Investors in Diversity enables organisations to take small steady steps
and then build up their confidence and work progressively.
- Because the Level 1 Investors in Diversity assessment is based on data, you will be able to benchmark your work against similar organisations to your own (this service will not be available for the first 6 months).
- The cost of 'Level 1 Investors in Diversity' is a fraction of the cost of doing Investors in Diversity at Level 2. Prices start at £550 for very small organisations. Charities that are members of the NCVO get a further discount of 5%.
Common Questions on 'Level 1 Investors in Diversity' standard.
- When was the 'Level 1 Investors in Diversity' standard launched?
May 2009 - What is the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 of Investors in Diversity?
- Level 1 is an entry level standard which measures your equality, diversity and inclusion
performance.There is also more of an equality legal compliance and policy focus.
- At Level 1 Investors in Diversity we are able to establish industry and organisational
benchmarks so organisations are able to see where they are in relation to other
organisations from their sector or industry.
- Level 1 Investors in Diversity is an entry route to the full Investors in Diversity and is much
cheaper than Investors in Diversity at Level 2. - Is Level 1 available to organisations from the private, public and voluntary sectors as Investors in Diversity as Level 2 is?
Yes, it is. - Why are the costs of Level 1 only a fraction of the costs of Level 2 Investors in Diversity?
- Investors in Diversity at Level 2 deals more with culture change and inclusion.
- Investors in Diversity at Level 2 provides you with your own fully trained, developed and
dedicated IiD Advisor.
- With Level 1 you do not have this support. You will receive the success criteria and be given
enough to prepare for the assessment.
- The assessment will be done online and not by an IiD assessor which is very cost effective.
- Investors in Diversity at Level 2 typically can take 8-18 months. Level 1 Investors in Diversity
can be done in between 4-12 weeks. - Will
we be able to use the 'Working towards Investors in Diversity' logo as
organisations would do with Investors in Diversity at Level 2?
No. You will be able to use the logo only once you have a chieved Level 1 Investors in Diversity. - Can we fail a Level 1 Assessment?
Yes. Whether you are awarded Level 1 Investors in Diversity depends entirely on the feedback and data. - Will we have another chance to do a Level 1 Assessment if we are not successfull first time?
Yes. - How much will it cost if we have to do the Level 1 Assessment again?
It will be the same cost as the first time you did it. - How much does it cost to do Level 1 Investors in Diversity?
Prices start at £550 for tiny organisations. - Will we be given performance feedback if we are not successful first time?
Yes. You will be provided with a full report of all the feedback so you can see where you fell down and which areas you need to improve. - When we achieve the Award will we be given a certificate and award?
Yes. You will be sent a certificate and the Level 1 Investors in Diversity logo. - How long will we have the Level 1 Investors in Diversity?
Two years from the initial assessment date. - Is there a progression route from Level 1 Investors in Diversity to Investors in Diversity Level 2?
Yes, there is. Level 1 leads into Investors in Diversity at Level 2. - Will we receive a reduction in fees if we go staright for Investors in Diversity at Level 2?
Yes, there will be costs savings from doing so.
