Prestigious gold standard for water supply company

14th March 2013

Sembcorp Bournemouth Water (SBW) is celebrating after being awarded the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) gold standard.

The company, which supplies drinking water to approximately half a million people in parts of Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, joins only 3.2 per cent of organisations in the UK to ever have achieved gold accreditation.

Investors in People specialises in transforming business performance through people. SBW has now held IIP accreditation for 20 years in succession.

Assessment is based entirely on interviews with staff selected at random. As a result SBW's commitment to on-going training and professional development across the organisation is key to the accreditation process.

As well as sponsoring work-related training, the water supply company encourages staff to take up accredited or higher qualifications.

It also has an apprenticeship scheme where, as part of their training, apprentices are required to undertake a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) programme, or similar accredited qualification, in addition to on-the-job learning. SBW is currently recruiting four apprentices.

Roger Harrington, Managing Director, said: "We are proud of our people and their achievements and we always look to support those who are willing to take the initiative and make the effort to improve their knowledge. 

"Achieving the IIP gold standard is really special – and a great endorsement of our training and development programme."

A number of former SBW apprentices/trainees who started with the business have now risen to supervisory/management level within the company.

They include Amanda Collins, Estates Manager; Tony Spinks, Compliance Manager, and Senior HR Advisors Michelle Hill and Rebekah Holbrook.