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It’s official – 100 people have now signed up for IoIC’s Foundation Level qualification since it was launched in January 2009. The 100th candidate, Lisa Smith, has been working in internal communication roles for Lloyds Banking Group for ten years, most recently communicating operational and strategic messages to the 55,000 employees working in the retail division. Explaining her decision to undertake the foundation programme, she said: “I have a lot of experience but no official qualification and want to be taken seriously as a professional communicator. I have a good reputation with colleagues, but achieving this qualification will show very clearly that this is my chosen profession, I am passionate about what I do and am committed to keeping up to speed with what is going on in the industry.” Lisa put her toe in the water by going on IoIC’s Effective Writing Skills course, when she felt that she needed to refresh her writing skills having spent some time in roles that were more focused in planning. She sees the qualification as a valuable way of both acquiring and refreshing a breadth of knowledge and skills, which will help with whatever challenges and roles she takes on in the future. Steve Knight, Accreditation Programme Co-director, said: “It’s great to see the momentum that has gathered around our qualification programme, which very much reflects the changing expectations of practitioners, their colleagues and employers. There is growing recognition of the value of such firm foundations in helping practitioners maintain a professional and flexible approach throughout their career, and being equipped to tackle the responsibilities that come their way.” The next cohort for the foundation qualification launches on 28 October. Further information about IoIC’s qualification programme is at http: www.ioic.org.uk/content/training/qualifications.html
Extra information: The IoIC accreditation programme is designed to raise standards throughout the internal communication industry. More than 30 senior UK-based communications professionals – most of them IoIC fellows – sit on the panel that judges candidates and oversees the programme. Companies who have put people on the programme include: AEGON, ATS Euromaster, BAE, BBC Pensions, BP, BUPA, Capita, Co-op, Co-op Pharmacy, Cumbria County Council, CW Corporate Communication, Deloitte, Department of Work and Pensions, EDF Energy, Enterprise, Essex County Council, E.ON, European Investment Bank, Forestry Commission, Friends Provident, GKN Driveline, HBOS, Health & Safety Executive, HMRC, International Nuclear Services Ltd, Logica, Mandarin Kite, Muller Dairy, NFU Mutual, NHS National Services Scotland, Nottingham Trent University, Orbis Investment, Principality Building Society, RBS, RBS Invoice Finance, Remploy, Royal Courts of Justice, Royal Institute of British Architects, Royal Mail, Scottish Government, Sellafield, Shell International, Sovereign, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, The Security Company, West London Mental Health NHS Trust, UK National Grid, Veolia Water, West Midlands Civil Service, Words & Pictures, Zircom.
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