Organisations set people investment milestone

Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, has praised the continuing strong ethos of investing in the management and development of people held by Northern Ireland organisations.

The Minister was speaking as he paid a visit to The Streat @ the Odyssey. This outlet of the major café franchise is the 1,500th local organisation to achieve the Investors in People (IiP) accreditation. Investors in People is a business improvement tool that helps organisations of every size, type and location to compete and succeed through improved people performance.

Sir Reg said: “People are at the very heart of successful businesses and the importance of local businesses investing in their people is particularly relevant at this difficult time for industry. To have 1,500 Northern Ireland businesses working with Investors in People is a tremendous milestone and an encouraging sign for the local economy.

“Experience has shown that companies which invest in the development of their people during times of economic downturn are in the strongest position to gain competitive advantage in recovery. In fact, research shows that companies that invest in the skills of their staff are two and half times more likely to survive.”

The Minister also announced the range of new choices now offered by Investors in People, which are more aligned to the current economic climate. He said: “Work is underway to align the Investors in People assessment process even more closely with the business issues currently facing organisations. There will also be a stronger focus on forward planning and organisations will now be encouraged to stretch themselves even further by looking at the themes and issues contained in the full Investors in People framework.

“It is only right that Investors in People should deliver more tailored, flexible business improvement support to help employers meet their goals and navigate current challenges.”

For more information on Investors in People please telephone 028 90441800 or visit www.delni.gov.uk/grow

Notes to Editors:

1. The new approach is the culmination of a two-year programme, developed and piloted with a wide range of employers, which has received widespread acclaim from the organisations involved. An evaluation showed that 89% of employers considered these new choices to have more value.

2. Alongside the new approach, IiP is introducing new levels of recognition – Bronze, Silver and Gold levels, as well as a form of recognition for long term holders of IiP accreditation. These additional accolades reflect the achievements of businesses working beyond the core IiP Standard and celebrate sustained commitment to continuous improvement.

3. In supporting Northern Ireland employers, the Department for Employment and Learning’s Investors in People Centre offers a range of practical measures including a free initial consultation and, for small to medium sized enterprises, financial subsidy against the cost of assessment.

4. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office on 028 9025 7872. Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699715440 and your call will be returned.