20 September 2001

WE PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH : FARREN

"Helping our staff to develop their own skills means we can provide a better service to our customers," Dr Seán Farren, MLA, Minister for Employment and Learning, said today.

The Minister was speaking at an event at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, to mark the recognition of his Department as an Investor in People. He said: "I am delighted that the Department for Employment and Learning has been recognised as an Investor in People. I see this as strong evidence that we practice what we preach in the area of managing and developing our staff towards making a positive contribution to the achievement of organisational objectives.

"Part of my Department’s role is to promote the use of the Investors in People standard as a business improvement tool. This can only be achieved if the staff involved understand the challenges faced by an organisation seeking to be recognised as an Investor in People, and believe in the benefits to be achieved from working with the standard.

"Across Northern Ireland, 493 organisations have now been recognised as Investors in People, well ahead of the UK average. I have often presented awards to other organisations and appreciate the significance of the achievement, so it gives me particular pleasure to receive the award on behalf of the Department for Employment and Learning.

"Organisations and businesses have to ensure that they have a knowledgeable, skilled and adaptable workforce if they are to succeed. To me, this is evidently true within the Northern Ireland Civil Service, where staff face tough challenges in meeting the demands of the Northern Ireland Assembly and its Ministers."

The Minister was presented with the Investors in People award by Dr Esmond Birnie, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Employment and Learning.

Media enquiries to Kevin Mulhern, Press Office 028 902 57790 or
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NOTES TO EDITORS:

Investors in People (IiP) is a business improvement tool that helps organisations to focus on developing the knowledge and skills of their people so that what they can do is what the business needs them to do. To date, 493 organisations in Northern Ireland have achieved IiP recognition.

The Department for Employment and Learning employs 1377 staff.