LJN Blog Posts

Lantra, the Sector Skills Council supporting land-based industries, announces today, 1 April, that they have been appointed to accredit the Investors in People programme to English businesses operating within the land-based and environmental sector.

Investors in People is a business improvement tool which links staff development with increased business profitability and levels of service. Investors in People supports and accredits employers that follow a structured business development programme.  Research shows that the Investors in People programme helps improve the financial performance of a business, by helping them continually strive to deliver quality products and services.* 

Lantra is one of five newly approved centres, and is the first Sector Skills Council (SSC) to have this opportunity and responsibility.  The programme is now run by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).

Peter Martin, Lantra’s Chief Executive, said: “Investors in People helps businesses become more competitive, dynamic and professional which is why we believe in the programme.  We don’t just believe in it though, we also live by it. We have been strong supporters and promoters of Investors in People since we were first accredited in 1995.

“We are excited to be an Investors in People centre because the business and skills development that it supports are an exact fit with Lantra’s work. Many of the programme’s objectives and activities mirror Lantra’s own programmes”.

John Hayes MP, Minister of State for Further Education, Skills and Lifelong Learning said:  "The refreshed Investors in People network will offer greater choice for organisations wishing to achieve or maintain their Investors in People status. I'm delighted that Lantra will be part of it." 

Peter continued: "Lantra is committed to improving workforce competence, improving business and management skills and reducing skill shortages.  Employers need to constantly review and update the skills of their staff and ensure that their skills are fully utilised.  Only by doing this can they maximise the return possible from their staff, who are their greatest asset.  I am proud that Lantra will be able to help this hugely important sector grow and develop through Investors in People.”

For more information or to register your interest in this programme please visit www.lantra.co.uk/investors-in-people or email investorsinpeople@lantra.co.uk.  Follow Lantra on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LantraSSC.

*Cranfield School of Management Report

-ENDS-

ISSUED BY

Lantra Press Office

Samuel Zelmer-Jackson, PR Co-ordinator

Tel: 02476 858 418 or email media@lantra.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITOR

• Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for land-based and environmental industries, working to ensure these businesses access the training, qualifications, skills and knowledge they need.
• Lantra represents 17 industries: agricultural livestock and crops; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; environmental conservation; equine; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land-based engineering; horticulture, landscaping and sports turf; production horticulture; trees and timber and veterinary activities.

• By working together with the sector, Lantra leads research on skills issues and business needs, sets national standards and develops qualifications to meet modern business needs and help businesses grow through skills.
• For more information see www.lantra.co.uk.

• Investors in People offers a practical, flexible and easy to use framework for improving business productivity, performance and competitiveness in organisations of all types and sizes through good practice in people management.
• An organisation that has achieved Investors in People has been successful in adopting and maintaining its three fundamental principles:
• The UK Commission for Employment and Skills has strategic ownership of the Investors in People framework. Investors in People is part of the UK Commission’s ambition to improve skills, employment and productivity across the UK.

•  
  1. Plan - developing strategies to improve the performance of the organisation, from business goals to leadership strategies;
  2. Do - implementing those strategies, taking action to improve the performance of the organisation;
  3. Review - evaluating and adjusting those strategies, measuring their impact on the performance of the organisation.

The Investors in People framework is delivered by a partner network:

• In England, the network of Investors in People Centres:

•  idg (Improvement Development Growth Limited) covering Yorkshire & Humber, North West and North East
• EMB Excellence Ltd (covering West Midlands, East Midlands and East of England)
• Inspiring Business Performance (IBP) Ltd (covering London, South East and South West). IBP will deliver Investors in People services in the South West through a managed relationship with the current delivery partner for that region, Recognising Excellence. 
• ·         G4S Assessment Services (UK) Ltd (covering West Midlands and the South West for new clients only in competition with EMB Excellence Ltd and IBP Ltd)
• ·         Lantra Sector Skills Council (to cover the environmental and land-based sector)
• In Scotland, Investors in People Scotland, in partnership with Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands.
• In Wales, the Business Skills Delivery Team at the Department for Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills, Welsh Assembly Government.
• In Northern Ireland, the Department for Employment and Learning.

For more information on Investors in People please visit www.investorsinpeople.co.uk