HANLEY ECONOMIC BUILDING SOCIETY HITS HEIGHTS WITH IIP GOLD AWARD AND TOP 100 BEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR
02 February 2015
Hanley Economic Building Society has today (2nd February 2015) announced it has achieved two significant landmarks by securing an Investors in People (IIP) Gold standard reaccreditation, and being placed in The Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For.
The Hanley has achieved the IIP Gold award, the highest that can be achieved. This recognises the Society’s ability to develop, support and motivate all its employees. The reaccreditation shows excellence in a number of areas including business strategy, leadership and management and continuous improvement.
In order to achieve Gold, 40% of Hanley staff were interviewed by two external IIP assessors over the course of two days and their responses were checked against 190 indicators. The Hanley had to evidence and demonstrate best practice across the board to prove it had developed a high performance workplace within the Society. This was achieved by instigating and ensuring continuous improvement in the ways it leads and develops its people.
It is also the first year that Hanley has featured in The Sunday Times’ 100 Best Companies to Work For – widely acknowledged as one of the most extensive research surveys into employee engagement in the UK.
In order to secure a top 100 placing, 99% of all staff at the Hanley took part in an anonymous survey providing their honest feedback on the Society across a number of criteria including leadership, staff well being, development, and the role it plays in the local community.
No influence on the survey responses were allowed and from the results the survey organisers weight all companies against their engagement criteria with accreditation and ranking within the Top 100 based on this.
David Webster, CEO of Hanley Economic Building Society, commented:
“We are incredibly proud to have secured both these awards and it is testament to the hard work and dedication of all our staff that these landmarks have been achieved. At the Hanley we have always recognised that the people that work for the Society are the key differentiator for us and their quality is now being recognised with this external recognition from both Investors in People and our first ranking in the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For. All our employee engagement work and our focus on developing our staff, and the environment they work in, filters through into helping us deliver a quality service and outcomes for our customers.
“The challenge for the Society now is to focus on continuous improvement and we will be working hard to maintain the IIP Gold accreditation over the next three years and to ensure we improve our Top 100 ranking year-on-year. Everyone at the Hanley is committed to this and we have already put in place an action plan in order to fulfil our ambitions in this area. This is wonderful way to start 2015 and is just the beginning of a journey for everyone at the Hanley. Through the commitment of all staff we will be looking to maintain and improve our standards right across the board.”
Staff at the Hanley have also praised the Society for its commitment to developing their work place environment and to the opportunities it presents them with.
Joy Nicholls, PA to the CEO and the longest serving member of staff, said:
“In my 42 years with the Hanley I’ve watched the Society and the staff go from strength to strength. I feel privileged to have spent my career with such a caring employer that believes passionately in the development and well-being of its staff. I feel proud to be part of the Hanley team and to be recognised for the success of the business.”
Lauren Ainsworth, Customer Services Administrator and one of its newer employees, said:
“Since joining the Hanley three years ago as an apprentice I have taken a number of NVQ qualifications and during this time the Society has given me the knowledge and confidence to continue a career in the finance industry.”
For further information on the Hanley Economic Building Society, please visit: www.thehanley.co.uk
