Warnborough College has joined an elite club of universities who have gained Investor in People status. This was first awarded to Warnborough in 2005, and has been retained after its audit and inspection in July 2008. Retaining this standard is one of the key objectives of Warnborough’s corporate strategy. Warnborough is committed to quality assurance and already holds ISO9001:2000 certification, and was the first college in the UK to achieve IS027001:2005.
Investor in People (IiP) is a UK government-backed initiative to help organisations to be more successful by adhering to good practice for the training and development of staff. Several UK universities now hold this prestigious standard including the universities of Bradford, Canterbury Christ Church, Coventry, Bath, Wales, Leeds, Nottingham, Roehampton, Sunderland, and Strathclyde,
Vice-President and IiP team leader since 2004, Dr Julian Ng said: “Achieving and maintaining this quality standard reflects the hard work administrators and faculty put into our commitment to the College and to students. It sends an important message to staff that their role is valued and that we are aspiring to continual improvement.”
Warnborough College has a long history of commitment to academic quality, student welfare and staff development. To this end, IiP provides a practical tool for internal and external reviews for staff performance and motivation. Dr Ng added: “The benchmark for achieving IiP is high and not easily awarded. We have an excellent quality IiP profile, and we intend to maintain standards at all levels. Students can be assured that Warnborough is at the forefront in what it provides.”
President Dr Brenden Tempest-Mogg said: “Providing a good working environment, team spirit, job satisfaction, and opportunities for personal training and development are passed to our students, thus enriching academic and personal care for those studying here.”
The IiP auditors noted in their 2005 and 2008 reports that outcomes from the Warnborough work done for ISO and for Investors in People standards were clearly evident and that people development processes in particular had been strengthened: “There is a very open culture (staff talked of a genuine ‘open door’ policy), and their internal auditing systems not only promote continuous improvement, but also encourage staff to embrace change. All staff demonstrated an appetite for improvement. They are ambitious and focused in their drive and the contribution that they make to the College.”
The Investor in People award is a national indicator that shows that Warnborough College is dedicated to training and developing all of its employees so that they can enhance their skills, performance and motivation. This has contributed to the success of Warnborough.