Thirty-five businesses from across Northern Ireland are celebrating their ‘additional’ accreditation at Gold, Silver and Bronze levels in the prestigious Investors in People (IiP) framework.
Hosting an event at Belfast Castle recently, Dr Stephen Farry, Minister for Employment and Learning, said the additional accreditation was the result of an extended IiP framework introduced in 2009.
He continued: “The extended framework 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.
“These organisations’ accomplishments indicate that they 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.
“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.