4 May 2001
BETTER PEOPLE MEAN BETTER BUSINESS
"Better people mean better business, and better business means a better future for Northern Ireland," Dr Sean Farren, the Minister for Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, said today.
The Minister was speaking at the largest ever presentation of Investors in People (IiP) awards to be held in Northern Ireland, during which he highlighted more than 40 local organisations who, he said, are helping to spearhead Northern Ireland’s drive for future economic success.
At the special presentation, held in Hillsborough Castle, 39 organisations were formally recognised as Investors in People, a further 5 received commendation for reaching the finals of the UK national IiP awards 2000, while 3 companies were successful in achieving both IiP and Excellence through People (EtP), the Republic’s equivalent to the Investors in People standard.
Dr Farren said: "Today’s ceremony is an outstanding illustration of how Northern Ireland is leading the way when it comes to investing in people.
We are the fastest growing IiP region in the UK and that is vital to our future economic development.
"Organisations and businesses in all sectors have to ensure that they have a knowledgeable, skilled and adaptable workforce if they are to succeed. They will only achieve that by investing in their people in the same way that they invest in bricks, mortar and machinery.
"That is exactly what IiP is all about. It encourages the sort of partnership that is essential for any organisation to compete successfully – they invest in their people and their people invest in them. The result is a "win-win" situation, in which the organisation gets its dividend in output, while staff see the improvement in their own performance, skills and abilities."
The Minister explained that 472 organisations in Northern Ireland had now been recognised as Investors in People, well ahead of the UK average, and said that those organisations which had achieved recognition in both IiP and EtP had shown the sort of forward thinking which others should follow.
He added: "Effective training and development is a must. Whether an organisation is located in the North or the South, the bottom line is that we have to continually strive to improve performance, competitiveness and flexibility if we are to compete on a local, national and world stage.
"The simple fact is that by working together, and learning from one another, we will help each other to succeed."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Investors in People (IiP) is the national quality standard which links an organisation’s training and development activities to its business objectives. To date, 472 organisations in Northern Ireland have achieved IiP recognition.
Excellence Through People (EtP) is the Republic of Ireland’s equivalent to IiP.
The organisations presented with IiP status in the special ceremony were:
Northern Ireland organisations receiving first time recognition as Investors in People
Amtec Medical Limited
Antrim
Healthcare Equipment Manufacturers
Audio Processing Technology Ltd
Belfast
Audio Equipment Manufacturers
Belmore Court Motel
Enniskillen
Motel
Centre for Migration Studies
Omagh
Educational/Museum
Charles O'Doherty & Sons
Strabane
Coffin Manufacturers
Clarity Telecom
Belfast
Communication
Corr's Corner
Newtownabbey
Hotel
First Derivatives Limited
Newry
Financial Consultants
Hazelwood Integrated College
Newtownabbey
School
Lisbellaw Primary School
Enniskillen
School
Lisburn YMCA Limited
Lisburn
YMCA
McCrory Scaffolding NI Ltd
Craigavon
Builders
McCulla (Ireland) Ltd
Lisburn
Cold Storage
NIE Powerteam Ltd (Network Services)
Belfast
Electricity Suppliers
Newry & Kilkeel Institute of Further &
Newry
College
Higher Education
Newtownabbey Borough Council
Newtownabbey
Council
NI Council for Integrated Education
Belfast
Educational Council
OCS Support Services
Belfast
Industrial Cleaners
Oakgrove Integrated College
Londonderry
School
Oaklee Housing Association
Belfast
Housing
Quinns Reihill McKeown
Cookstown
Wholesale Cash & Carry
R G Coulter & Co Ltd
Kilkeel
Contractor
Relay Business Software
Belfast
Computer Software
St Mary's Primary School
Omagh
School
St Michael's Primary School
Belfast
School
Scruples Hair & Beauty Salon
Banbridge
Hairdressing Salon
Sherwood Systems Ltd
Belfast
Information Technology
Smyth Steel Ltd
Coleraine
Anvil Works
Software Industry Federation(Momentum)
Belfast
Computer Industry
Springvale Training Ltd
Belfast
Training Provider
Templemoyle Care Homes Ltd
Eglinton, Co Derry
Nursing Homes
The Conservatory Shop
Belfast
Conservatory Supplier
The Fly
Belfast
Bar
The 'Old Bushmills' Distillery Co Ltd
Bushmills
Whiskey Distillery
The Print Factory
Enniskillen
Printers
Thompson Enterprise Group
Londonderry
Landscapers
Ulidia Integrated College
Carrickfergus
College
United Hospitals Health & Social Services Trust
Antrim
Hospital
Valuation and Lands Agency
Belfast
Government
NI Finalists in the National Investors in People Awards 2000
Action Mental Health
Belfast
Charity
Business in the Community
Belfast
Community Trust
Hilton Meats (Cookstown) Ltd
Cookstown
Butchery
Royal Group of Hospitals
Belfast
Hospital
Ulster Bank Group
Belfast
Bank
Participants in the Investors in People/Excellence through People cross-border project
Supplies Team
Belfast & Dublin
IT Support
Pearn Kandola
Dublin
Psychologial Testing & Training
SCI Ireland
Fermoy, Co Cork
Electronics
For further information please contact Anne Morrow on 028 90 257831 or 07799 711524.