HARPER ADAMS RECOGNISED AS AN ‘INVESTOR IN PEOPLE’

Posted 21 May 2003

HARPER ADAMS, Shropshire’s only University College has scooped the prestigious ‘Investor in People’ award – at its first attempt!

The University College, based at Edgmond, near Newport, underwent three days of intensive assessment in April. More than fifty members of staff were interviewed before Harper Adams was recognised as having met the standards laid down by Investors in People UK. A formal presentation of the Investors in People plaque will take place on Friday, June 6, 2003.

Professor Wynne Jones, Principal of Harper Adams, said: “This is a significant achievement for the University, in which every member of staff has played a role, as the Investors in People standard is based upon four staff development principles: A commitment to develop employees to achieve business goals and targets, planning to review training and development needs, ensuring steps are taken to meet those needs and evaluating the effectiveness of training and development upon both the employee and the organisation as a whole.”

Professor Jones added: “As a University College specialising in land-based Higher Education, we are extremely pleased to have achieved the unusual feat of receiving Investor in People accreditation across the entire college at our first attempt.

“We join an exclusive club of only 31 Higher Education institutions who have achieved this. Our staff are to be congratulated on their commitment to the process and we will all continue to be committed to meet Investor in People requirements so that we will be well prepared for our first reassessment in two years time.”

Mr Paul Lowe, representing Business Link for Shropshire, will officially present the Investors In People award to Harper Adams at the ceremony next month.

(Ends)

Notes to Editors: There will be a photo opportunity at the official presentation of the Investors in People award on Friday, June 6, 2003 at 1.30pm, at Harper Adams University College.