East Midlands-based Woodhead Group, has been accredited with Investors In People (IIP) Gold in its second audit – being awarded the highest score the assessor had ever encountered.

Woodhead is this year celebrating its 70th anniversary and rated in the top 5% of companies in the country for its commitment to Investors in People (IIP).

Investors in People is the UK’s leading accreditation for business improvement through people management, and provides resources for businesses to innovate, improve and grow, with a focus on good people making great business.

Woodhead successfully achieved the Gold standard following an audit in December, a status which it now shares with just a small number of companies across the country.

A range of Woodhead employees were interviewed by an Investors in People assessor over the course of a week, looking at a wide range of subjects, including communication and knowledge transfer, training and staff development, leadership, coaching and employee engagement.

Investors in People assessor, David Melton from emb-x, said: “I first assessed the company in February 2001. The company was much smaller then, but also more fragmented, and with a less clear overall mission. Sales and profit were important, and they still have to be, but there was much less emphasis on vision and values.

“The vision and values are now clear to everyone, the Board and senior management work as an extremely united and efficient team, and people totally ‘buy into’ the customer-focused ethos of the organisation…There is a massive investment in training, learning and development, so managers and staff exhibit the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need to fulfil customer requirements.

“There is hardly any staff turnover, due to excellent welfare and work-life-balance practices, thus maintaining continuity for customers. The score of 182 is the highest I have ever encountered.”

Considerate Management Director, Teresa Westwood, said: “As well as our ongoing commitment to giving everyone in the organisation the opportunities and support they need to progress and thrive, we have also launched new programmes over the last year. Robust programmes of work experience are constantly being launched through our B.I.G. Initiative and we delivered a highly successful Good to Gold training programme, which provided 476 training places for members of our supply chain and staff.

“We do everything we can to provide our employees with the best and most supportive environment to work in, which in turn reflects in their commitment to our clients and the pride they take in the job they do for Woodhead.”