GOC gets IIP endorsement

Far from being an organisation frantically dealing with compulsory CET and its other new powers, the GOC is an oasis of calm according to business benchmarking assessor Investors in People.

The Council has been recognised as an Investor in People organisation after achieving the Standard in December.

It demonstrated to the IIP 'a strong commitment to learning and development', and 'staff were deemed to have a good understanding of how they contribute to overall aims and objectives'.

IIP assessor Carol Barnes concluded that the overall culture was one of people and teams working towards common goals.

'As I entered the door of the GOC I was struck by the calm, professional atmosphere,' she said.

'I was particularly impressed with the positive confirmation from everyone interviewed with regards to internal communication and the GOC's flexible approach to support and development of its people.'

GOC chief executive and registrar, Peter Coe said: 'People are the lifeblood of this organisation. We are a small team, so it's vital that everyone has the skills and motivation they need to work together effectively. The IIP report is a great endorsement, and we plan to keep building on this success.'

Investors in People is a national standard awarded to organisations that demonstrate good practice in the management, training and development of their staff. 'Effective staff development helps an organisation to meet its overall business aims and objectives, and can help to improve customer satisfaction and productivity,' Barnes added.

'I believe staff development is important because these are the people you trust to run your business at the sharp end. The benefits of getting it right are people stay motivated and are able to do their jobs with more confidence. In my experience this has a positive effect on customer satisfaction and staff retention.'