Locala Community Partnerships, which provides NHS community healthcare services in and around Kirklees, has been awarded the prestigious ‘Silver’ status in the national ‘Investors in People’ (IIP) standard, designed to highlight outstanding people management within businesses and organisations.

Locala is now recognised as one of the top 15% of companies in the country accredited with IIP, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to realising the potential of its people. Locala, a community interest company which is owned by its employees, previously held the entry level IIP award.

Robert Flack, Locala’s Chief Executive, said: “This is superb for an organisation only three years old. It means, of the 13000 public, private, charitable and social organisations that IIP have assessed across the UK, we are one of the best.

“Following the introduction of new IIP graded standards, we decided to bypass ‘Bronze’ and go for ‘Silver’ and it turns out, we only narrowly missed ‘Gold’. What an achievement! I am so proud of everyone and they should be proud too because Locala is all about its people!”

“This sends a clear message that our people are engaged and feel valued and further enhances the excellent, high quality community healthcare, they provide, for local people. Our IIP feedback talked about our passion for community services and for the communities we serve and it mentioned our ability to innovate; the way we can make quick decisions and our

membership model.”

To attain the coveted ‘Silver’ status Locala was put through eight days of rigorous questioning and observation by external assessors. They talked to clinical and non-clinical colleagues and attended meetings and events within a variety of services across Kirklees and Calderdale.

Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People, said: “Achieving the Investors in People Silver standard is something that any organisation should be truly proud of. It is the sign of a company which is very committed to good people management practice and we’d like to congratulate Locala on their achievement.”

Steve Burrows, Managing Director of Investors in People North of England said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Locala and I would like to congratulate the team on their success. We believe that good people make a great business and as a proven organisational development framework, Investors in People is designed to help organisations and their people to realise potential, enhance performance and meet goals. With their Silver accreditation, Locala is certainly working to realise their people potential.”