The most important investment any business can make is in its staff. Employers’ commitment to investing in the skills of their staff is encapsulated in the Investors in People programme. This national standard is awarded to organisations that successfully combine training, individual development and staff involvement in achieving business objectives.

Investors in People provides a practical and tailor made framework for improving business performance and competitiveness. It directly supports a climate of continuous improvement.

It establishes a planned approach to setting and communicating business goals and developing people to meet these goals. The result is, that what people can do, and are motivated to do, match with what the organisation needs them to do.

At the heart of Investors in People is the national standard for effective investment in people. The standard was launched in 1991, and it gives an organisation a comprehensive benchmark of effective practice against which it checks its policies and practice in the development of its entire people.

Once an organisation is assessed and has met the standards it is publicly recognised as an Investor in People. A formal re-assessment is carried out every three years and the standard is rigorously quality assured.

R M Developments Ltd, which specialises in building and development projects across Cornwall, was recognised in July 2000 as an Investor in People by Quality South West

Managing Director Ray Morris, has thirty five years experience in the industry and has led R M Developments Ltd to achieve the Investors in People Standard in 2000 and has successfully been recognised as continuing to meet the requirements of the National Standard for effective Investment in People by Quality South West, with its focus on training and developing staff to the highest standards. R M Developments Ltd has quickly earned a reputation for quality and reliability.

With reference to the Investor in People Award, Ray Morris said:

"From the very beginning I have wanted to raise the standards of work and health and safety within the industry. Specifically, I want to convey to the people who work for me, who earn my profits that I do care about them. Investors in People therefore seemed the best route to take. Since then things have begun to happen for us. The good practices of Investors in People have raised the quality of our work and have helped to build our reputation in a short space of time."

Under Ray, contracts manager Stuart Ivall and site foremen Colin Piper and Dickie Cox, R M Developments Ltd is committed to training and development at all levels. Ray's own son, Philip, completed his apprenticeship as a craft mason. At the same time as this Ray has extended his own qualifications by completing his NVQ III in carpentry and achieving the CITB construction site safety course. The company has also achieved the industry's construction skills certificate for at least 75% of all staff having a CSCS trade card.