In 2006, ReAgent achieved the Investors in People standard, an accreditation we have always dedicated ourselves in maintaining. This dedication is shown by the fact that in August this year, ReAgent was reaccredited as Investors in People for another 3 years!
In this post:
What is Investors in People?
Investors in People (IIP) is a standard that assesses employee management and employee satisfaction. Driven by their commitment to encouraging positive change in the workplace, the IIP organisation does exactly what its name suggests – it invests in the value of people.
Founded in 1991, the Investors in People organisation started out as a UK Government project with the intention of encouraging better leadership from employers. Today, IIP is an independent, not-for-profit company that not only has a national impact but a strong global presence.
In fact, Investors in People works with organisations worldwide to show them the benefits of investing in their employees’ potential, and how a better working environment can lead to a better business.
ReAgent as Investors in People
Being accredited to this standard shows that a company is adhering to what the IIP consider to be the signs of an excellent employer that is dedicated to creating a positive working environment for its staff.
ReAgent has demonstrated its commitment to members of staff by providing up-to-date training, opportunities to develop and all-around support. The value we place in people is the reason why we have been recognised Investors in People since 2006 – and, with our recent renewal, until 2021 at least!
How Do We Invest in Our Staff?
There are several ways in which we try to ensure a positive working environment for every member of staff. When we moved into our new manufacturing facility earlier this year, employees benefited from increased office space, spacious canteen areas and a brighter, more open atmosphere.
One way we develop people’s skills is by enrolling members of staff in out-of-office workshop events. This way, they get the chance to learn new things and become inspired about their area of work.
We have always ensured that employees receive training in areas they are interested in or areas that will help to develop their potential. In the past, employees at ReAgent have benefited from a variety of training programmes directly related to developing their professional skills.
Training for Sales and Admin Staff
Last year, the sales and administration team at ReAgent undertook an Inbound and Outbound Calling programme that would improve their relationships with customers and lead to more successful sales conversations.
The training sessions were delivered by an external agency and provided the staff with useful techniques that would help to develop their professional skills.
Training Matrix
Our accreditation to the ISO 9001 Quality System and 14001 Environmental System requires us to provide adequate training to all members of staff. But ReAgent takes it one step further to ensure that every employee feels confident in their abilities and develops skills that will stay with them throughout their professional life.
Our training matrix is a systematic programme that covers the:
- Initial training provided to new employees: this includes things like workplace hazards, fire safety, health and safety, emergency evacuation and general welfare facilities.
- Tracking of employee progress: this is done on a spreadsheet and is a clear, efficient way to see what areas of the business an employee is progressing through.
- Review of training and future progress: we use a scoring system to determine what areas an employee may be struggling with so that we can provide extra support to them. It is also a great way for us to determine what steps should be taken next in terms of personal development.
With this system in place, it is easy for ReAgent to keep track of how employees, especially new members of staff, are adjusting to their environment or to new aspects of their role.
External Training
We also arrange external companies to visit the ReAgent factory and provide relevant training to our members of staff. Examples of external training we have provided in the past include:
- Fork Lift Truck Training
- First Aid Training
- Training on Legislative Subjects
When it comes to developing professional skills in areas like sales or marketing, we always encourage our staff to keep an eye out for any events or workshops that they would be interested in attending.
Excellent Employers for Over 40 Years
While we have been recognised as Investors in People since 2006, ReAgent has invested in its staff since 1977. From the moment we became established, ReAgent has always placed great importance in the development and welfare of its employees.
Growing from a small team of 6 to a company that employs over 40 people, we are proud to have been reaccredited as Investors in People for the next 3 years.
