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Investing in people essential for economy - Empey

8 April 2009

Employment Minister, Sir Reg Empey, today appealed to local businesses to continue investing in the skills of their employees.

The Minister was speaking as he presented 36 businesses and organisations with the prestigious Investors in People (IiP) accreditation.  IiP has long been acknowledged as an important international marque of good business practice.  It is a business improvement tool that helps organisations of every size, type and location to compete and succeed through improved people performance.

At the Hillsborough Castle celebration event, Sir Reg said: “Experience has shown that companies that invest in the development of their people during times of economic downturn are in the strongest position to gain competitive advantage in recovery.  In fact, research shows that companies that invest in the skills of their staff are two and half times more likely to survive.”

The Minister continued:  “Some of the UK’s most senior business figures and union leaders recently re-urged employers not to slash staff training in a bid to cut costs in the current economic climate.  I would stress to employers that it is the people we employ that will get us through challenging times and it is their commitment and skills that will make the difference.”

Sir Reg congratulated those receiving awards and added:  “The uptake of IiP in Northern Ireland is an encouraging sign for the local economy, and should serve as an example to other employers not yet capitalising on the bottom-line business benefits of IiP.  We tend to forget that businesses are, in essence, people, and the importance of local businesses investing in their people is particularly relevant at this difficult time for industry.”

He also assured businesses that as the business environment changes the delivery of IiP will also change in response to current challenges: “Work is underway to align the IiP assessment process even more closely with the business issues currently facing organisations.  Organisations will also be encouraged to stretch themselves even further by looking at the themes and issues contained in the full Investors in People framework.”

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Investors in People (IIP) is a business improvement tool that helps organisations to compete and succeed through improved people performance.  The framework is designed to help organisations develop the knowledge and skills of their people so that what they can do is what the business needs them to do.  

2. Over 1,500 small, medium and large organisations from all sectors and sizes of business in Northern Ireland are currently using Investors in People to transform their businesses.  

3. The organisations receiving accreditation as Investors in People during this special ceremony were:

  • 1All PlayBallynahinch
  • 2Appletree Dental CareNewry
  • 3AscertLisburn
  • 4Beeches Management CentreSouth Belfast
  • 5C2kEast Belfast
  • 6Clarehill Plastics LtdLisburn
  • 7ConscapeEnniskillen
  • 8Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough
  • Council - Human Resources DivisionDungannon
  • 9Dunmurry Dental PracticeSouth Belfast
  • 10Express by Holiday InnAntrim
  • 11Fluent Technology LtdBelfast
  • 12Irwin Donaghey Stockman LLPColeraine
  • 13Labour Relations AgencyBelfast
  • 14Livingston Dental HealthcareBangor
  • 15Management & ConstructionNewry
  • 16McCue Interior Fitout SolutionsCarrick
  • 17Mencap Northern IrelandSouth Belfast
  • 18Mercy Care - Avila Nursing HomeNewry
  • 19Morrows CentraLisburn
  • 20Newry Credit Union LtdNewry
  • 21North City Business CentreNorth Belfast
  • 22Now ProjectWest Belfast
  • 23PI Communication LtdSouth Belfast
  • 24Platinum RecruitmentDownpatrick
  • 25Power Procurement BusinessSouth Belfast
  • 26Riada RecruitmentColeraine
  • 27SportsbowlBallymena
  • 28St Martin's Nursery SchoolWest Belfast
  • 29TAL LtdLisburn
  • 30The Grange Dental CareOmagh
  • 31The Odyssey Trust Company LtdBelfast
  • 32The Quays Shopping & Leisure CentreNewry
  • 33Translink - Rail ServicesBelfast
  • 34Voluntary Arts IrelandDownpatrick
  • 35Women's TECNorth Belfast
  • 36Xquisite DentalNewtownards

4. Photographs from the presentation ceremony are available on request from the Department for Employment and Learning Press Office.  

5. Media queries to the Department for Employment and Learning’s Press Office on 028 9025 7872.  Out of office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager, number 07699715 440.