News Archive - IiP, IiP hooray!

Thurrock Council has secured a Bronze Investors in People (IiP) Award, a step up from its previous "standard" rating.

Investors in People have changed their rating system and organisations bidding for reaccreditation can now aim higher than the "standard" mark with Bronze classed as "excellent", Silver "exceptional" and Gold "leading edge".

Assessors speak with employees and examine an organisation's policies and practices before evaluating their ranking. The council had improved in most areas.

Thurrock first won IiP status in 2004 and repeated the success in 2007. The latest IiP report states: "By comparison with the review in 2007 there has been an overall improvement with the council clearly meeting the requirements of the Standard."

Among the "key strengths" at Thurrock are "improved communications across the authority", the Developing Together programme which "has improved the quality and effectiveness of learning and development across the council", and "The promotion of equality and diversity through mandatory learning and development on diversity for all staff".

The report highlights the council's "strategic approach to learning and development across the council with the introduction of Developing Together programme, and the introduction of Women Developing Together, a
Management Development Programme, and an improved focus on Equality and Diversity".

In addition it has introduced a "stronger approach to performance management" and a "Behavioural Competency Framework to improve performance".

Cllr Val Morris-Cook, Deputy Leader of Thurrock Council, said: "With 70 per cent of Thurrock Council's staff living in the borough, they are its most important asset.

"It is always important that an employer does what it can for their employees and that is all the more imperative in these difficult financial times.

"Informing staff about what is happening and giving them the chance to comment - and to be listened too - is key to improving performance overall."