Investors In People

The Orchard Trust has a very long-standing commitment to Investors in People, having first attained this prestigious award in April 1995. However, it is not so widely understood that this award requires a permanent ongoing commitment from those organisations that aspire to attain it.

The Trust has opted to undergo a three-yearly cycle of re-accreditation, which means that we are required to constantly demonstrate our commitment to our staff by means of continuous development.

In order to meet the required accreditation standards, the Trust undertakes a constant re-assessment of the ways in which it communicates with, values, and develops its staff, both as team members and as individuals.

The Orchard Trust is committed to using the findings of external verification to strive to achieve ever-higher standards.

Having continuously held the IIP Award for fifteen years, the Trust has developed its own Training Department, accredited with City & Guilds, NCFE, NCON and CIEH offering National Vocational Qualifications in Health and Social Care levels 2 and 3 and LDQ, to deliver specialist training. This training is used to help develop our staff to the full. That it has been successful in doing so was demonstrated when the Trust won the Outstanding Organisation Award for the South West Region.

We were absolutely delighted to achieve the Silver Investors in People Standard in our February 2011 review as this demonstrates the commitment and support of all our staff to uphold the Trust's values and vision - to be excellent in all that we do.