IIP Gold for CH&Co

28 April 2011

The independent catering group, CH&Co, has been awarded Investors in People Gold Recognition, the highest accolade available within the Investors in People programme.

The company first achieved IIP status in 1997. Despite the phenomenal growth of CH&Co since then, including a major re-branding in 2010, which saw the launch of five niche catering brands, it is clear that people still come first.
Alison Gilbert, director of HR and a board director of CH&Co, said:” This is a fantastic endorsement of our ethos and company values, and shows that, despite our growth and success, our people are very much at the heart of our business.
“As an Investor in People company since 1997, we encourage creative talent and an exchange of ideas, and we believe in the value of training and developing employees at all levels, allowing them to grow and to maximise their skills and potential. It may seem a cliché to say that our people are our greatest asset but in a service industry such as ours, a happy, well-motivated and valued team is everything.”
IIP assessor, Peter Kearns was particularly impressed with CH&Co’s TUPE process and the recruitment and induction of new employees and how each person is developed and mentored from the outset.
He said:” Every person in the business has a clear understanding of the company’s values and can talk about them with confidence and a real understanding of the part they play. What is all the more impressive is that CH&Co has achieved Gold Standard so soon after a major restructuring”.
The achievement of Gold Recognition puts CH&Co in the top 0.88% of the 24,000 Investors in People recognised organisations in the country.
CH&Co employs almost 2,000 people nationwide and current turnover is £75 million. Clients include The Mansion House, the Law Society plus many leading City law firms across its five specialist catering brands: Charlton House (staff catering at B&I sites), Lusso (City and fine dining), Chester Boyd (livery halls and private venues), It’s the Agency (venues and events booking agency) and Ampersand (public and event catering at iconic & private venues).
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For further information see www.chandco.net