Building people power

Hertsmere Borough Council’s Building Control Section is building people power – after being awarded the Investors in People accreditation on 17 July.

The Investors in People Standard is a business improvement tool designed to advance an organisation’s performance through its people.

“It is excellent to achieve this accreditation,” said Mick McGinty, Divisional Building Control Officer, who led the departments’ accreditation. “I believe it is an indication of the strength and dedication of the people who make up the Building Control Team.”

The department had a series of assessments, which included interviews with staff to look at training and development, staff awareness of the department and organisational policies, the council’s aims and objectives, communications, and how staff are appraised and encouraged.

Richard Grove, Head of Planning and Building Control, adds: “In principle, the accreditation looks into the opportunities available to people working in building control to progress to the top and has opened up opportunities for people within the team to undergo further training, including workplace assessed NVQs through to management qualifications.

“I firmly believe that providing opportunities to develop will help our team stay motivated and happy, which filters through to our customers. I also hope this award will help recruit and retain professional staff to our team in the future.”

The department will have to be reassessed in 2011.