Almost 70 per cent of small to medium sized businesses believe their participation in the Investors in People (IiP) development programme has helped to boost their productivity. This is one of the findings of a survey carried out across the UK to gauge businesses opinions on the programme as it completes its first ten years.

The survey, commissioned by Investors in People UK, also revealed that in Scotland 70 per cent of employees agreed with this, feeling their own productivity had increased. This was the most positive result in the UK - where the corresponding national figure was 15 per cent.

The tenth anniversary also coincides with 'IiP week' - running from the 29th of October to 2nd November - designed to raise the profile of the programme and promote its benefits to further companies and organisations.

In the Highlands and Islands the Investors in People programme has been a real success story - with the area hosting a third of all Scottish recognitions, out of only a tenth of the business population.

The area has also blazed a trail in adapting the IiP programme to the needs of micro, small and medium sized businesses. In the UK as a whole much of the emphasis until now has been on rolling out IiP to large companies and organisations. This is now being tailored to draw in smaller concerns - work which has already been done in the HIE area, and experience of which could prove to be a valuable resource for the national effort.

Head of business advice and information at HIE, Patricia MacLeod, said: "I think a key strength of IiP in the Highlands and Islands has been the role it plays in helping businesses expand on a firm footing. For example, when a small company steps up production or output it usually needs better and more efficient management and administration systems - in many instances IiP has been a vehicle for achieving this.

"We have made a conscious effort to match the programme with the local business population and this has obviously paid dividends. This survey demonstrates the value of the IiP programme - and should encourage other organisations to take it up.

"It's also true that we are currently facing skills shortages in some parts of the Highlands and Islands - the IiP programme, because it encourages employers to look at their staff and their abilities as a key resource, should help companies identify where their key shortages are and what training might be needed to overcome them."

Amongst other survey findings were that 90 per cent of Scots employees see new technology as a means to boost their productivity - against a UK figure of 79 per cent, and that 80 per cent of Scots employees believe the ability to work more flexible hours would also boost their output.

Ruth Spellman, chief executive of Investors in People UK said: "To compete against the rest of the world companies in the Highlands and Islands, alongside the rest of the UK, must be smart, fast and flexible. The IiP programme can help organisations to develop these abilities, and I am delighted that this survey shows a widespread recognition of that role."