This is the second year of the Champions programme, following the launch of the initiative by the then Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Charles Clarke, last year.

Announcing the successful organisations, Phil Hope said,

“Congratulations to the eight Champion organisations who have each been outstanding in promoting the values and principles of Investors in People. All are at the cutting edge of workforce development and are not content with just being good enough. These organisations are a group where valuing employees and their contribution is the start, not the end and where they aspire to being the best of the best. Not only that, they want to share the best of what they do too. I would like to thank the Champions for the work they’ve put in and for the future work they’ll be doing to champion the IIP Standard.”

The Champions work with Investors in People UK to share their expertise with other employers through a series of best practice sharing activities designed to promote effective alignment of people development with business goals. The activities will include presentations, mentoring and site visits to the Champion organisation.

Ruth Spellman, Chief Executive of Investors in People, said,

“Launched last year, the Champions programme has been a tremendous success for all concerned. The Champions have shared their expertise, experience and knowledge at a wide variety of events and forums right across the country. All are excellent standard bearers for the Investors in People philosophy of placing people and skills at the heart of their organisation’s strategy.

“Following our rigorous applications process, all of this year’s Champions have proved themselves to be exemplar employers and will be a valuable addition to the programme. I look forward to working with them over the next few years.”

This year’s successful Champions are: 

· Café Spice Namaste, London

· Carpentry Management Contracting (CMC) Ltd, Bedfordshire

· Friends Road Medical Practice, Croydon

· Lyness Group, Birmingham

· Prudential UK

· Rivington and Blackrod High School, Bolton

· Thomson Directories Limited

· Yell

Further Investors in People Champions will be selected on an annual basis. Champion status lasts for three years, after which current Champions are allowed to reapply should they wish to do so.

Businesses wishing to contact any of the Champions or for further information can visit www.investorsinpeoplechampions.co.uk
or email champions@iipuk.co.uk

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1. The Investors in People Standard provides a framework for improving business performance and competitiveness through good practice in human resource development.

2. 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  do - taking action to improve the performance of the organisation, review - evaluating the impact on the performance of the organisation.

3. The Investors in People Standard is promoted and developed by Investors in People UK - a public body whose main stakeholder is the Department for Education and Skills.

4. The Investors in People Standard is delivered by a partner network:

· In England, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and Business Links.

· In Scotland, Scottish Enterprise (SE) or Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

· In Wales, the National Council for Education and Training for Wales and the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, jointly known as Education Learning Wales (ELWa).

· In Northern Ireland, the Department for Employment and Learning.