Sandwell Leisure Trust (SLT) has again passed its Investors in People (IIP) assessment with flying colours after a rigorous interim review.
Having been awarded ‘Silver’ status last year – which is valid until 2023 and puts SLT in the top 15% of organisations in the UK for people management excellence – part of maintaining the standard is an annual evaluation to check progress and ensure the organisation is maintaining and even improving standards.
IIP Practitioner Gordon Stopani says: “Despite the significant challenges faced by SLT as a result of the pandemic, the Trust has successfully continued to make good progress and improvements in its approaches to keeping in touch with leisure centre staff, supporting their health and wellbeing, as well as forging even more extensive relationships with a range of community stakeholders.
“The interim IIP Review demonstrates that SLT has regularly maintained contact with staff, seeking to ensure that they are safe and well and that any support they may need is provided. SLT has also been able to deliver some learning online, ensuring that it further maintains contact with staff.
“It’s further clear that SLT has made the wellbeing of its staff a key priority for leaders and managers in the business. The Wellness Hub provides extensive health-related information and signposting for those staff who find themselves requiring further support with health-related matters, plus the 24-hour ‘Doctorline’ support is another excellent benefit which is available to all staff and something which few organisations have made available to their workers during the pandemic.”
Additionally, the Review praised SLT’s extensive preparations for a return to work post lockdown and said its positive and proactive approach to re-setting and recovering from the pandemic has staff wellbeing and staff interests at its heart.
Lynda Bateman, Chair of the SLT Board, adds: “We are delighted to again receive this impressive endorsement from the external IIP assessor. On behalf of myself and all our Board members, I firstly wish to thank all those that have supported this achievement and continue to work tirelessly in very challenging times and secondly I wish to confirm the Boards ongoing commitment to the wellbeing and development of our staff.
“The Board understands these are amongst the most difficult times many staff have had to endure, but we are confident that the hard work and dedication of our employees will be at the cornerstone of a confident recovery for the Trust.”
The Investors in People Standard has been developed over 25 years and defines what it takes to lead, support and manage people for sustained success across 75 countries worldwide. IIP focuses on nine key indicators of top organisations that consistently outperform their peers – namely leading and inspiring people; personifying company values; empowering and involving people; managing performance; recognising and rewarding high performance; structuring work; building capability; delivering continuous improvement and creating sustainable success.
