Robert Woodhead Ltd has been awarded Investors in People Silver recognition. The construction company based in Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire is one of only 12 companies in the East Midlands to have obtained the silver standard. The achievement of the Award was announced to company personnel at a specially arranged staff conference held on Wednesday 3 July at Edwinstowe House, Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire. During the conference, the appointment of two new directors was also announced. Internal promotions saw Craig Pygall become Construction Director and Steve Gribby’s appointment as Repairs and Maintenance Director.
David Woodhead, Managing Director of Robert Woodhead Ltd confirmed, “Our business is growing with turnover for the first six months up 39% on last year. To continue this we know we need staff engaged, involved and committed. Our people are at the centre of our business so we are continuing to invest in them to help them realise their potential. Working together as a team, we can accomplish our vision of making building a better experience for all.”
The internal promotions illustrate just how committed the company is to staff development. Craig Pygall, who has been with the company since December 2007, has been promoted from Contracts Manager & Team Leader of Woodhead Living (Robert Woodhead Ltd’s specialist residential and sustainable projects team) to Construction Director. Steve Gribby, who joined Robert Woodhead eight years ago as a Site Manager before being promoted to lead their Public Sector Minor Works & Maintenance team, has been promoted to Repairs and Maintenance Director, with strategic responsibility for Woodhead One, the company’s building repairs and maintenance service provider, which has seen turnover double in the last 12 months.
Speaking to staff David continued, “I would like to extend my congratulations to Craig and Steve, both have been key leaders of our growth in recent years. But we could not have achieved this success without all of you. I am pleased to be presenting our three year business plan which focusses on 20% year on year growth. One of the reasons for this is that we want to create growth and development opportunities for the next generation of managers and leaders in our business.”
The conference and the internal promotions go some way to highlight just how Robert Woodhead Ltd has managed to achieve the Silver Investors in People status. Commenting on the Award Teresa Westwood, HR Manager said, “We achieved the Investors in People standard for the first time in in 2001 and were one of the first construction companies in the East Midlands to do so. We have been regularly re-assessed against the standard since then. In 2011 IIP introduced a Bronze, Silver and Gold standard and we decided that our 2013 audit would be against Silver. To achieve this we needed to meet a minimum of 115 out of 145 requirements and I am delighted to say we met 131.”
EMB Excellence, IIPs Governing Body said, “The Silver Standard is a very challenging one to meet and is increasingly seen as a measure of a quality employer. Your success not only reflects your own commitment, but is also an acknowledgement of the effort of everyone who works for the organisation.”
In the audit report the IIP assessor particularly highlighted the company’s values, their commitment to learning, work life balance practices and recognition strategies, stating that “Everyone believes that Robert Woodhead is a totally fair place to work.”
Pictured: L - R Teresa Westwood, HR and Business Support Manager and David Woodhead, Managing Director