| Investors in People today announced that nine organisations have been awarded Investors in People Champion status 2007. In addition, a further 10 organisations, who were named as Champions back in 2004, have also successfully retained their status for another three years.
The Investors in People Champions programme recognises employers that have boosted the productivity of their organisation through the way they manage and develop their employees. Each has demonstrated consistent commitment to people development as a way of delivering its organisation's goals.
The Investors in People Standard benefits organisations of all sizes and sectors, and this year’s new Champions reflect this diversity, including West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive - Metro, Salford Council (Community, Health and Social Care Directorate) and Business Advisers, Cooper Parry. They will join the other 27 Champions which include TNT UK Ltd, Nationwide Building Society and Yell.
The Champions will work with Investors in People UK to help other employers by sharing their experience and success in the area of people development. The best practice sharing activities will include mentoring and site visits to Champion organisations.
David Lammy, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Skills, commented;
"If we want our economy to compare with the best in the world, we need skills that compare with the best in the world. The UK’s employers play a crucial role in delivering this vision, ensuring their employees are motivated, equipped with the right skills and able to fulfil their potential.
“The Investors in People Champions have demonstrated real commitment to the development of their people and clearly recognise the link between properly skilled employees and benefits to their bottom-line and overall organisational performance. I congratulate them on their achievements.”
Presenting the awards at a celebratory dinner last night, Simon Jones, Acting Chief Executive, Investors in People said:
“When we launched the programme back in 2004, we wanted to recognise and celebrate those employers that have placed the Investors in People Standard at the heart of their organisations and as a result, have reaped the benefits of effective people development. Four years on, we have a diverse range of Champions spanning sectors including health, education, finance and logistics, employing ten people up to 15,000 people.”
“In the last four years, our Champions have shared their expertise with employers across the UK, highlighting the business benefits of effective people development including increased employee motivation, higher retention rates and improved productivity. I am delighted to award another nine organisations Champion status – I’m sure they will bring huge benefits to the programme. Congratulations also to the ten organisations who have retained their Champion status and have helped make the programme as successful as it is today.”
This year’s successful Champions are:
- Central Scotland Forest Trust, Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland
- Salford Council (Community, Health and Social Care Directorate), Salford, North West
- Cooper Parry, Nottingham, East Midlands
- Taylor’s, Stockport, North West
- The Cedar Foundation, Belfast, Northern Ireland
- West Yorkshire Passenger Transit Executive, Yorkshire and Humberside
- Hilbre High School, Wirral, North West
- Northern Council Housing Association, Blackburn, North West
- Redbridge Community School, Southampton, Hants
The Champions which have retained their status are:
- Barnfield College, Luton, South East
- Chelmsford College, Chelmsford, Essex
- ClinPhone Group Ltd, Nottingham, East Midlands
- Nationwide Building Society, Swindon, South West
- Old School House Day Nursery, Newmarket, Suffolk
- South Farnham School, Farnham, Surrey
- Springfarm Architectural Moldings, Antrim, Northern Ireland
- St Mary’s Girls College, Londonderry, Northern Ireland
- Swiss Cottage School, London
- TNT UK Ltd, Warwickshire, West Midlands
Champion status is awarded on an annual basis to organisations which apply and is judged on a set of criteria. Champion status lasts for three years, after which time current Champions are invited to reapply for the status, should they wish to do so.
Businesses wishing to contact any of the Champions or requiring further information should visit www.investorsinpeoplechampions.co.uk or email champions@iipuk.co.uk
Ends.
Investors in People and the Champions are available for further comment. Photos are also available of the Champions receiving their awards. Please contact the Investors in People press office on 020 7544 3118.
Investors in People: Investors in People:
- The Investors in People Standard provides a practical framework for improving business performance and competitiveness through good practice in human resource development.
- An organisation that has achieved the Standard has been successful in adopting and maintaining its three fundamental principles: Plan - developing strategies to improve the performance of the organisation, from business goals to leadership strategies; Do - implementing those strategies, taking action to improve the performance of the organisation; Review - evaluating and adjusting those strategies, measuring their impact on the performance of the organisation.
- The Investors in People Standard and Profile are promoted and developed by Investors in People UK – an organisation whose main stakeholder is the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
The Investors in People Standard is delivered by a partner network:
- In England, the network of Investors in People Centres.
- In Scotland, Scottish Enterprise (SE) or Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
- In Wales, the Business Skills Delivery Team at the Department for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Welsh Assembly Government.
- In Northern Ireland, the Department for Employment of Learning.
Investors in People is available for further comment. Please contact the Investors in People press office 020 7544 3118. For more information on Investors in People please visit www.investorsinpeople.co.uk |