What is Information, Advice & Guidance (IAG)?

Employees within most organisations already receive information, advice and guidance on learning and work from their line managers, HR or Training departments, specialists or consultants and from friends or colleagues.  These sessions are often informal and may not even be planned, though they can happen during mentoring, coaching, as part of appraisal or during staff development activities.

IAG services within an organisation will supplement rather than replace these activities.  Focusing on the needs and aspirations of the individual, the project will sharpen the skills of key advice givers.  Setting up IAG services will provide a foundation for training initiatives by allowing employees to find out about personal development.

In general terms IAG services will include:

Information

• about courses
• about development opportunities within the organisation including job opportunities in different disciplines where this is appropriate

Advice

• in assisting understanding of the choices available

& Guidance

• 1:1 Guidance to plan the next step for those who need it
• A broader interpretation, of advice and guidance on learning and work, might include:
• Information on courses of all kinds, different occupations, preparing CVs and job search skills or signposting/referral to organisations who can provide this assistance
• Advice to help understand the choices available about learning and work
• In terms of the project, “IAG in the workplace”, participating employers will be able to define the level and style of service they aim to provide 

What is the project about?

• Taking IAG into the workplace in the West of England with particular focus on reaching those individuals most in need of information, advice and/or guidance on learning and work.
• Ensuring the quality of all proposed IAG services by ensuring appropriate levels of training for delivery staff and by applying the Matrix standard as a set of guidelines to best practice.
• Working closely with employers to identify how IAG can add value to the staff development process and further develop the business arguments.
• Including among participating employers: a local authority; a large private sector employer; a healthcare trust; a small to medium size enterprise

What will the project provide and pay for?

• When you decide to participate you can access a range of services free of charge to support your organisation in developing your IAG service:
• Advice and support from the Partnership Team – this includes all the experience from 140 participating members
• IAG resources – e.g. software packages, packs, leaflets, shelving, etc
• Networking opportunities through a programme of regular meetings and events
• Training and development programme of accredited training to develop IAG Practitioner and Manager skills including:
• Workshops – e.g. basic skills awareness, ‘How to display IAG resources’, organisational development workshops
• OCN in Providing Information (learning champions, reps, etc)
• NVQ 2 in Advice & Guidance
• NVQ 3/4 in Advice & Guidance
• Customised training programme
• Staff replacement costs to enable people to attend training events
• Other resources for staff training
• Funding for delivering information and advice services
• Provision of advice service (from Network Information Adviser)
• Support to publicise your IAG services, develop your own materials
• Support to achieve Matrix accreditation: packs, workshops, 1:1 consultancy etc

Why you should participate

Well implemented IAG can:

• Underpin and support staff development
• Identify training & development needs of staff
• Improve skills of line managers/ supervisors particularly in identifying and skilfully handling low skills/basic skills problems
• Better identify staff potential for development
• Increase numbers of staff able to benefit from internal T& D opportunities
• Create support mechanisms for staff involved in the development process and contribute towards a culture which values the process
• Create better understanding of availability of opportunities
• Provide on-going support for delivery staff
• Encourage staff in owning their personal development hence improving their attitudes towards T&D
• Help staff to view the organisation from a different perspective
• Encourage those who have benefited from training to champion the process
• Encourage line managers, supervisors and IAG delivery staff to take ownership of the service (e.g. give a name to the service for promotional purposes rather than call it IAG and/or rename their own version of the Learning Rep)

The above factors have a number of potential impacts on your organisation, depending on a variety of complex variables such as size, workforce composition, nature of business etc. They may:

• Make a contribution to improving staff retention
• Create savings in terms of greater efficiency/effectiveness of staff development activities
• Help develop the skills of line managers
• Assist culture change
• Enhance the impact of IiP on the business and assist business goals
• Assist achievement of best practice in HR/Personnel issues e.g. induction procedures
• Contribute to reduction of costs due to waste, production bottlenecks etc

Your participation

Organisations may take part in the project on a number of bases/levels from providing a referral and signposting service to Information Advice & Guidance (IAG) about learning and work operating in the West of England area, up to providing an IAG service with the intention of gaining and maintain accreditation in respect of matrix, the Guidance Council Quality Standard. 

• You will be asked to sign a Partnership Agreement, which sets out your commitment to:
• Operate in the spirit of Partnership
• Adopt the Guidance Council Code of Principles
• Support staff development and the achievement of relevant IAG qualifications
• Participate in relevant meetings and events