100th candidate signs up for IoIC foundation qualification

Aug. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- It’s official – 100 people have now signed up for the Institute of Internal Communication’s (IoIC) 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 in the professional development section available at www.ioic.org.uk

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The Institute of Internal Communication is the UK professional body for internal communication professionals. It offers professional development, promotes the importance of internal communications, develops industry knowledge, provides a strong network.