We are proud to have achieved both the ‘We Invest in People’ and the ‘We Invest in Wellbeing Gold’ accreditation, marking an important milestone in the college’s commitment to staff wellbeing and staff development.
This represents clear recognition of the positive culture we have built at the college and of our staff’s commitment at every level to creating a supportive, ambitious environment where colleagues feel valued and able to do their best work.
The Investors in People accreditation is an internationally recognised framework that supports organisations in improving performance through effective leadership, a strong workplace culture and a clear commitment to staff development. It focuses on how organisations support people to thrive, ensuring staff feel valued, supported and able to develop professionally while promoting strong staff wellbeing.
At the college, the process involved a detailed review of how we support our staff across several areas, including leadership, staff development, communication, staff wellbeing and organisational culture.
As part of the Investors in People accreditation, the assessor surveyed all staff and then spoke individually with colleagues from across the college to understand their experiences of working here and how supported they feel in their roles.
They also reviewed our policies, staff development opportunities and wellbeing initiatives, leaving no stone unturned and reinforcing our commitment to staff wellbeing.
Over recent years, the college has placed a strong emphasis on staff development, collaboration and staff wellbeing.
This principle includes structured professional learning opportunities, mentoring and coaching, opportunities for staff to share best practice, and a clear commitment to supporting staff wellbeing. These initiatives helped demonstrate that the college invests in its people and actively supports them in growing and succeeding through strong staff development opportunities.
Karen Phillips, Learner Area Manager and Director of Formation, said of the award:
“It is particularly rewarding because it recognises the collective effort across the college to prioritise people. A huge thank you must go to staff across the college who took the time to speak with the assessor and share their experiences so openly. Their contributions were central to achieving this recognition.”
Ultimately, a strong and supportive staff community directly impacts our students’ experience. When the college values and supports colleagues through strong staff development and a focus on staff wellbeing, they can provide high-quality teaching, guidance and opportunities for learners.
These accreditations not only recognise the culture we have built together, but also reinforce our commitment to continuing to invest in our people, strengthen staff wellbeing, and support the success of our students through recognised standards such as the Investors in People accreditation.
