Ballymoney lifts Investors in People Silver award

Dr Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning, offered his congratulations to the organisations that received the IiP business award at a celebration event held in Belfast Castle.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Minister praised recipients, saying: “Today is a very special occasion as it marks the first ever group event to celebrate the additional accreditation that organisations in Northern Ireland have attained against the Investors in People framework. The extended framework, introduced in 2009, provides a greater challenge in terms of business improvement guidance. It is designed not only to signpost the path for further development but also to recognise and honour the progress that customers make within the extended framework through the gold, silver and bronze levels.

“Your accomplishments indicate that your organisations are not just prepared to attain a certain standard but are willing to go beyond this. The UK Commission for Employment and Skills just last month released the latest findings from an employer evaluation on the impact of the IiP framework. Seventy-one percent of businesses reported achieving the business results expected and 23% reported higher than anticipated benefits. Northern Ireland employers also experienced a higher percentage increase in quality of products, productivity of the workforce, ability of staff to do their jobs, volume of sales and satisfaction amongst customers than counterparts in the rest of the UK.”

Speaking at the event, Alan Shannon, Permanent Secretary at the Department for Employment and Learning said: “Recently, the approach to the delivery of Investors in People has changed, becoming even more targeted at transforming the performance of organisations. Its focus is on the benefits of working with the framework to help organisations develop, implement and evaluate their people management and development strategies. If you develop the skills of your employees, success will follow.”

Investors in People has long been acknowledged as the most successful framework for business improvement through people. It helps organisations of every size, sector and location to compete and succeed through improved people performance. The approach to its delivery has recently changed, becoming more tailored to individual business needs, to help organisations develop, implement as well as evaluate their people management and development strategies. The framework also provides stretch for all businesses, who can now work towards achieving the core Standard or the additional accreditation awards at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.