Investors In People is the national standard which sets a level of good practice for training and development of people to achieve business goals. The objective of the award is to recognise organisations that put mechanisms in place to show that what people can do and are motivated to do matches what the organisation needs them to do. The process should engender the culture of continuous improvement.

The Investors In People Standard is based on four key principles:

• Commitment: Commitment to invest in people to achieve business goals.
• Planning: Planning how skills, individuals and teams are to be developed to achieve these goals.
• Action: Taking action to develop and use necessary skills in a well defined and continuing programme directly tied to business objectives.
• Evaluating: Evaluating outcomes of training and development for individuals' progress towards goals, the value achieved and future needs.

These four key principles are broken down into 12 indicators, against which organisations wishing to be recognised as an "Investor In People" are assessed.

South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue has been awarded the Investor In People standard in 2002 once again and as an organisation continuously since 1999. Prior to that the Brigade Training Centre was recognised as achieving the standard from 1995.