Recent quarterly surveys from Proskills are telling us that the trading environment remains tough and that investment in skills and training is still some way down the priority list for the majority of employers as they are focused on survival. 

However, together with Proskills we are committed to helping organisations in the process manufacturing sector to access Investors in People as a solution for their business and skills issues –  especially as research confirms that employers working with the framework experience significant return on investment in areas such as: 

• Increased profitability – “Our research finds that adopting Investors in People sets up a chain of impact ending in better financial performance” Cranfield School of Management
• Increased productivity – “Both now and in the future. 73% of Captains of Industry working with Investors in People recognised organisations, believe that the framework leads to increased productivity” Captains of Industry Survey 
• Higher profits – “Employers that choose to enter the Investors in People process and are successful in gaining accreditation, generate higher gross profits per employee than would a randomly selected organisation.” Institute for Employment Studies
• Best companies to work for  – Employers who have achieved recognition with the Investors in People Standard are regularly featuring in the Top 100 Sunday Times Best companies to work for lists - from not for profit organisations, to SMEs, to large public sector bodies

idg Managing Director, Steve Burrows says:  

“The development of our partnership with Proskills will allow businesses to have a simple access point to a wider range of support tools and techniques whether sector specific or tailored around size or geography.   

We are committed to working with Proskills to ensure that we listen to what employers want and work with them to provide solutions that will support their ambitions and goals. We are delighted to be working with partners who have the same drive, commitment and passion as we do to make that difference”. 

As the official partner for Investors in People in the North of England, idg will be in touch with local process manufacturing organisations with Proskills – offering support and advice on the options in moving forward with the framework. 

If you would like to find out more about Investors in People and the Proskills project, please click here or contact us for more information. 

If you would like to find out more about Proskills click here to visit their website or download their latest newsletter here.

Including a wide range of sessions, each course has been specifically designed for the education sector and covers different themes and topics that many schools and colleges experience but may wish to explore and improve. 

From safeguarding and crisis management, to understanding how different people communicate, each session has been developed to actively help people working within the education sector to improve, develop and grow their performance – both individually and for their organisation as a whole.

You can find out more about the sessions here and if you would like to talk to us about any of the courses in more depth, please get in touch!

Do you work in education? What kind of training do you find the most beneficial to your work and personal development? Let us know your thoughts!

idg

One of the largest business events in the North of England, the NE Expo attracted over 1500 visitors including entrepreneurs and businesses from across the UK.

Alongside the exhibition, the event included a number of masterclasses and seminars which featured Jamie Lester, a finalist on the BBC’s The Apprentice, Newcastle Eagles’ Fab Flournoy, Richard Nauyokas from ITV’s Bad Lads Army and online entrepreneur Dan Foskett.

We hope you enjoyed the event if you attended but if not and you would like to talk to us about how your business can improve, develop and grow please get in touch.

Since the National Training Awards began in 1987, over 23000 entries have been received and the achievements of over 2300 NTA winners have been celebrated.

The thrill of winning an Award is obvious, but the National Training Awards have a far greater reach than individual success. This is because winners collectively demonstrate that the UK has a world-class, highly trained and motivated workforce – supporting further investment in the regions and Nations.

Entering the Awards offers organisations working and recognised with Investors in People the opportunity to continually build on their successful training programmes, gaining public recognition for achieving success by developing their people year on year.

With previous winners and entrants reporting benefits such as enhanced public profile, winning additional business and receiving excellent developmental feedback, entering the National Training Awards could be a great opportunity for you.

National Training Award categories include:

• Small Employer Award (1-49 employees)
• Medium Employer Award (50-249 employees)
• Large Employer Award (250-4999 employees)
• Macro Employer Award (5000+ employees)

Could you be a National Training Award winner? If you are working with Investors in People, you are already on your way there. 

You can find out more about the Awards and how to enter by attending one of the upcoming information seminars. These will be taking place across England and Wales from the 26 March 2012.

The National Winners will be announced at a VIP reception at The Skills Show in Birmingham on 14 November, with the deadline for all entries on Friday 25 May 2012 at 5pm.

And good luck!

Each year Best Companies and The Sunday Times celebrate the best not for profit workplaces in the UK and each applicant undertakes an organisational questionnaire and employee survey – all translating into the top 100 list.

Local Investors in People organisations appearing on the 2012 Not for Profit list include:

• One Vision Housing – Bootle (1^st)
• New Charter Housing Trust Group – Ashton Under Lyne (7^th)
• Dale and Valley Homes – County Durham (11^th)
• Calico – Burnley (12^th)
• Leeds University Union – Leeds (17^th)
• Plus Dane Group – Liverpool (20^th)
• Weaver Vale Housing Trust – Cheshire (23^rd)
• Northumbria Students’ Union – Newcastle (25^th)
• The Children’s Centre – Isle of Man (34^th)
• Community Gateway Association – Preston (37^th)
• Yorkshire Coast Homes – Scarborough (40^th)
• Stockport Homes – Stockport (42^nd)
• Community Links – Leeds (49^th)
• The Cyrenians – Newcastle (55^th)
• Harbour Support Services – Hartlepool (56^th)
• NCFE – Newcastle (60^th)
• The Five Lamps Organisation – Thornaby (65^th)
• Goodwin Development Trust – Hull (69^th)
• Mosscare Housing Group – Manchester (71^st)
• Northwards Housing – Manchester (74^th)
• Coast & Country Housing Limited – Redcar (77^th)
• Gateshead College – Gateshead (80^th)
• City West Housing Trust – Eccles (86^th)
• SLH Group – Liverpool (89^th)
• Trafford Housing Trust – Cheshire (100^th)

Special Awards were also awarded to two local Investors in People:

• Community Gateway Association – Innovation in Engagement Practice
• One Vision Housing – Best for Giving Something Back
• One Vision Housing – Best Improver

As the official partner for Investors in People across the North of England, idg is very pleased to congratulate all of the listed organisations and wish them every future success. It is a fantastic achievement to go alongside their Investors in People recognitions. 

If you are interested in The Sunday Time’s Top 100 Not for Profit Organisations to Work For, you can find out more by visiting www.bestcompanies.co.uk 

If you would like to find out more about how developing your people can improve performance, click here to explore Investors in People.