Sevenoaks District Council has achieved Investors in People Champion status by demonstrating that it cares for and communicates with its workforce.
The 430-strong workforce has been working with Investors in People since 1997 and recently achieved the pinnacle of the scheme’s awards. Champions of Investors in People are role model organisations, both in the private and public sector, which lead by example in the way they manage and develop their people.
The Leader of the council, Cllr Peter Fleming, said: “Involvement and full engagement with staff is crucial and we endeavour to ensure that all council policies and procedures are transparent and understood by all. Our staff surveys, both internal and external, demonstrate that the council has a no-blame culture where everyone is empowered to carry out their roles with trust and support from managers."
“Investors in People has to be embedded in an organisation in order for it to work,” continued Cllr Fleming. “It has become even more valuable to us since the economic downturn. With such pressure on public budgets the principles behind Investors in People, such as clear communication and involving staff, are becoming increasingly important.”
One of the key roles of a Champion status organisation is to act as ambassadors for Investors in People. Sevenoaks District Council has already held a very successful workshop for both public and private sector organisations in which it shared its experience and knowledge and expanded on the benefits to its workforce of retaining Investors in People.
The council celebrated attaining its Champion status with the formal presentation of the Investors in People Champion plaque.
Commenting on Sevenoaks District Council’s achievement, John Telfer, Managing Director of Inspiring Business Performance, the Investors in People Centre for the South of England, said: “It is clear that Sevenoaks District Council staff are very proud of their achievement and so they should be. During these challenging times for the public sector, organisations which communicate effectively with their staff will be better placed to manage change and innovation. I wish them all the very best as they go from strength to strength as both an Investor in People and as a Champion.”
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John Telfer (third from right), Managing Director of Inspiring Business Performance, presents the Investors in People Champions plaque to Sevenoaks District Council’s (L-R) Pav Ramewell, Peter Fleming, Kristen Paterson, Keith Loney, Robin Hales and Carrie McKenzie-Lloyd. |
