Investors in People Article

Areas of Particular Strength or Effective Practice:

The following is a list of good practice characteristics or features found during the course of the site visits. These are recognised as exceeding the basic requirements of the Investors in People Standard:-

• a clear commitment from senior staff to adopt an open approach to communications matched by an intense loyalty from many staff to what they perceive to be “their Firm” and thus a wish to know and be a part of what is going on.
• the visibility and accessibility of the Directors widely welcomed and appreciated in a time of ongoing growth and development.
• an open approach to sharing both information and knowledge and a perception from most staff that “the Firm listens to us”.
• practical and effective formal appraisal processes which are implemented consistently for all staff and seen as beneficial by the almost everyone. They are complemented by a range of informal opportunities for ongoing performance review. There is a clear sense that the Firm “delivers” on the agreed development and training activity.
• the style of management supports the development of a highly positive “praise culture” within the Firm. There is regular feedback to staff, both formal and informal, a strong sense of “loyalty” and a feeling from almost everyone of “being valued and recognised”.
• the clear sense of empowerment felt by the majority of those interviewed, underpinned by a strong ethos of continued support and encouragement.
• a very clear and genuine commitment from the senior staff, to try and fulfil learning and development needs. This was believed by a all staff and is underpinned by an embedded culture of coaching, mentoring and support both formal and informal.
• the philosophy of the Firm provides for an established learning and development culture as evidenced by the process framework and the volume of ongoing activity. There is also support for staff to train to externally validated standards. These cover both nationally recognised and sector recognised standards ranging from First Aid to professional qualifications.

Extract from Investors in People Report 16th June 2006 reproduced by kind permission of John Wooddissee, Investors in People Assesor.