Swindon construction firm Beard has achieved the Investors in People Gold Standard for its commitment to the principles of Investors in People (IiP) and their benefits to company performance.
Just 48 organisations in the South of England have achieved the standard, which puts Beard in the top 1 per cent and makes it one of only four construction firms in the South to attain this.
Beard’s main objective for implementing the Standard is to add value to the organisation, improve performance at all levels and add value to its customers.
IiP Assessor Cath Parish, who conducted Beard’s recent review, said: “In comparison to many other organisations I have worked with in this sector, I was very impressed with the vibrant and supportive attitude within Beard.
“Since their last review in 2007, there has been a real focus on the development of leadership and management skills and this has been a catalyst for raising the success of the organisation in line with its quest for ‘prompt and faultless delivery’.”
One of the most positive aspects of the review was the staff’s perception that Beard is a really good place to work. Interviews were held with 38 of its 169 staff representing a range of roles and responsibilities and from its bases in Swindon, Oxford and Guildford.
Managing director Mark Beard said: “Investing in people is central to our philosophy and underpins the performance of our company and the service and quality we deliver to our customers.
“I believe our new leadership development programme for project managers coupled with our apprenticeship programme shows why we’ve been given this award.”
The apprenticeship programme was cited by Chris Matcham, visiting fellow at Henley Business School, as being ‘the best young people/trainee scheme (I’ve) seen in years’.
Beard, which has an annual turnover of £50m, operates throughout central southern England in the education, healthcare, commercial, leisure, and defence sectors.
