East-Anglian contract catering firm Edwards & Blake has been awarded an Investors in People (IIP) Accreditation, satisfying the 39 IIP criteria set by business leaders that cover business management, leadership and performance measurement. The award is an indication to the public and employees that the holder of the accreditation exhibits excellent people-management skills that include training, development and mentoring.
Edwards & Blake have invested significantly in their employees and this is reflected in a staff turnover of 16.6%, which compares favourably with the catering industry average of 26%.
The IIP report praised Edwards and Blake for their commitment to staff development commenting that ‘The owners have built the business based on strong relationships and openness and this remains readily apparent.’
People-orientated ethos
Shirley Edwards, Managing Director of Edwards and Blake says; “Our exceptionally high staff retention figure is a result of our people-orientated ethos and the work we put into ensuring our staff are happy and enthusiastic about their roles. We look after them from the moment they arrive with a comprehensive induction video and a ‘buddying up’ system to ensure they settle in well with the company. Thereafter we create personal development programmes and conduct regular training whilst continually reviewing and mentoring them throughout their career.”
Shirley continues: “The overarching ethos at Edwards & Blake is one of approachability and openness with staff, so they feel comfortable discussing any concerns or challenges they need help with. We have also invested in training site managers to improve their skills in this area.
“Our chefs and service teams are fundamental to the success of our business and we hold regular innovation workshops where ideas are shared and feedback is encouraged. They take pride in their work and this in turn encourages a positive attitude and outlook from the staff around them”
Owned and managed by Shirley Edwards and Caroline Blake, the company is based in Swaffham in Norfolk. It looks after over 85 contracts and has over 500 staff. Edwards and Blake has a turnover of over £15m.
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