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Information, Advice or Guidance

Information

Information can be found in many places within different organisations, for example:

• The website – this may inform clients about opening times, phone numbers
and members of staff

• Helpdesk staff

• Reception staff

• Company materials, such as leaflets, newspaper articles and flyers.

In a place of work, different types of information can be used by members of staff
as well as clients. For example, when an employee starts in a new organisation, they
receive information as part of their induction to their role. This is to make sure they are
aware of their responsibilities and workplace policies and procedures.

Advice

The main difference between advice and information relates to staff having more
experience; these staff can draw upon their knowledge and judgements to provide
advice. Junior staff with less experience may need to pass information on where more
than simple facts are required.

Clients are likely to gather advice from:

• Phone and face to face contact with experienced staff

• Previous users of the service perhaps advising them of the best time to
attend or the best person to speak to.

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