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Semple & McKillop was one of 33 local businesses praised by Alan Shannon, the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Employment and Learning, for preparing for the upturn by continuing to improve and invest in their people. The celebration event was held in Hillsborough Castle.

Mr Shannon said: “I am enthused to see such a diverse group of businesses gaining the tried and tested Investors in People accreditation. This group represents a cross section of Northern Ireland businesses. Today we see organisations from all sectors, areas and sizes, ranging from a dental practice in Coalisland employing 6 people to the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, one of NI’s biggest employers with 20,000 staff.”

The Permanent Secretary added: “In today’s rapidly changing and challenging economy it is often easy to forget that businesses realise their ambitions through their people. Now is the time for businesses to look to the future, investing in their people to give them that all important edge. Northern Ireland businesses have faced difficult times over the last couple of years. However, we need now to concentrate on preparing for the upturn. Organisations best placed to do this are those that continue to invest in their people, those who continue to strive for improvement and those who adapt to change and learn to innovate.”

Investors in People has long been acknowledged as the most successful framework for business improvement through people. It helps organisations of every size, sector and location to compete and succeed through improved people performance. The approach to its delivery has recently changed, becoming more tailored to individual business needs, as well as the framework being extended to provide stretch for all businesses, who can now work towards achieving the core Standard or the recently added Bronze, Silver and Gold levels.