Staff help businesses get fit for the future

As Investors in People week (2 – 6 November) fast approaches, employers are being encouraged to get their organisation ‘fit for the future’.
 
According to Quality South East, the Investors in People centre for the region, staff should be involved in their company’s plans for the future as early as possible to help them feel included.

Trish Fraser, Managing Director of Quality South East, said: “When the recession comes to an end, bosses will need to be confident about implementing changes to help their businesses thrive. Now is the time to start thinking about how best to equip your organisation for the economic upturn. Communicating with staff can really help to develop ways of taking the business forward and involving employees makes them feel valued.”

According to recent research from HR consultancy Chiumento, almost a fifth of the UK workforce (17.8%) will be actively looking for a new job within the next six months and almost a third (33.5%) plan to move on within two years.
 
Trish Fraser continued: “When the economy recovers and unemployment levels ease, staff who are unhappy in their jobs will look elsewhere so if you have employees that are essential to the company’s success, you should do everything you can to hang on to them. Talking to staff about any changes that will be taking place within the business is a good place to start. Often employees on the ground have the answers to improving productivity and efficiency; listening to them and taking their ideas on board could be the key to success.

“Investors in People can be used to vastly improve internal communications, as well as boost staff morale and increase staff retention. Setting up channels of communication so that employers and staff can share information and learn from each other can be extremely valuable.”

Investors in People provides a framework for continuous improvement that can help organisations of all sizes and sectors meet goals and adapt to change. Investors in People week takes place annually and is a good opportunity for Investors in People recognised organisations to share best practice with others and encourage staff to embrace the principles of the framework.

Investors in People Week

“Organisations often organise events during Investors in People week to provide a real focus for improvement. Workshops on personal development, team-building days, social events or a drop in session with the HR department are just a few of the ideas that organisations can try,” added Trish Fraser. “The week also provides an opportunity to celebrate success both internally and with the outside world. Why not tell your customers and suppliers how well your business is doing?”

Information and advice, as well as a free business development tool to help organisations identify where they are against the Investors in People framework and pinpoint their areas for improvement, is available at www.investorsinpeople.co.uk/interactive.

To find out more about the benefits of Investors in People and how the framework can benefit organisations call 01329 822077.

ENDS

For more media information, please contact: Rachel Knight or Georgette McCready, Maxim, 01892 513033 or email: first name@maxim-pr.co.uk

Notes to editors

Investors in People

Investors in People provides a practical framework for improving business performance and competitiveness through good practice in people management.
 
An organisation that has achieved Investors in People has been successful in adopting and maintaining its three fundamental principles:

The Investors in People framework is promoted, developed and delivered by Investors in People UK – an organisation whose main stakeholder is the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

For more information on Investors in People visit www.investorsinpeople.co.uk

Quality South East is licensed by Investors in People UK to provide Investors in People assessment and support services. Quality South East covers Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Kent, Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire, Surrey and Sussex.

Addleton, Josie on 01/11/09