Home > News > September 2005 > 14-Sep-2005

Minister highlights business success at celebration event

A skilled and knowledgeable workforce is the foundation for business success, according to Northern Ireland employment and learning minister, Angela Smith.

The Minister was speaking to representatives of 34 organisations, from across Northern Ireland, attending an Investors in People award ceremony held last week at Hillsborough Castle.

Paying tribute to the efforts of the award winners, Angela Smith said: "This morning's ceremony is an outstanding illustration of how Northern Ireland business is playing its part in building a knowledge and skills based economy.

"To compete successfully and realise increased productivity, turnover and profit, increasing numbers of employers are recognising the need to raise the skills level of their workforce.

"In addition, the experience of Investor in People organisations is a tangible illustration of the positive impact workforce development has on business performance."

The minister stressed that Investors in People recognition was not the end of the journey for award recipients. She said: "In addition to their assessment report, Investor in People organisations have a suite of business improvement tools and stretch options from which to further develop the capability of their people, helping turn good practice into best practice."

Challenging local employers to continue the uptake of the Investors in People Standard which has, since its inception, attracted over 860 organisations here, Angela Smith said: "I cannot overstate the need for employers in Northern Ireland to take action to raise the skills levels of their workforce so that we remain competitive and positioned to take advantage of future economic opportunities.

"That is why my department has produced a Skills Strategy that focuses on raising the skills of the current workforce, enhancing the quality of those gaining employment and addressing the skills requirements of those not yet in employment.

"The inclusion of the Investors in People Standard within the strategy recognises the valuable contribution this business improvement tool makes to aligning learning and skills development with desired organisational and, ultimately, economic outcomes."

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