School cheers people power

Pictured with Minister for Employment and Learning Stephen Farry and Northern Ireland Commissioner (UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES)) Mark Huddleston, are Derek Wright and Ian McConaghy, principal of Dromore High School, receiving the school's Investors in People accreditation.

The school, which employs 85 people, was among those honoured at a recent presentation ceremony in Belfast Castle.

There, special guest, Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry, said organisations succeeded by realising the potential of their people.

“The organisations receiving Investors in People accreditation today are proof of that,” he said.

“People’s strengths, ambitions and ideas are the engine of success.

“IIP accreditation signals to customers and employees your commitment to good business and people management excellence.

“If you develop the skills of your employees and improve your employee engagement, success will ultimately follow.

“Through Investors in People, everything is informed by one principle: good people make a great business.”

Since 1991, Investors in People (which is currently housed within the UK Commision for Employment and Skills), has set the standard for better people management.

The standard is described as defining what it takes to lead, support and manage people well.

Successful accreditation against the Investors in People Standard is regarded as “the sign of a great employer who understands that it is people that make the difference”. Mark Huddleston, Northern Ireland Commissioner (UKCES), said: “The commitment to the Investors in People standard by an organisation is demonstration to not only grow the business but more importantly grow the people also.

“The opportunity today to recognise what has been achieved by these organisations in Northern Ireland highlights the hard work and effort made to rise above the crowd and become a benchmark for people management and development excellence.

“ The event today allows those businesses being recognised to celebrate the achievement of the IIP Standard and again recognise the benefits to be gained through the continued investment in the skills and effectiveness of the people within an organisation, whether large or small.”