We are proud to announce that our HR Department has been awarded ‘Best HR Team’ at the CIPD People Management Awards! This achievement reflects our commitment to transforming our organisation through forward-thinking HR practices.
In late 2022, our college faced significant challenges including strike action and higher turnover rates. However, following a comprehensive review of our HR strategy and the appointment of a new Principal and Chief Executive Officer in early 2023, we embarked on a journey of revitalisation. This effort was recognised by the PMAs judges who praised our team for their “significant and impactful cultural change.”
Under the new leadership, we developed and implemented a robust people strategy that has since yielded positive results. By March 2023, we achieved a “Good” rating from Ofsted and improved our financial health. This success provided a strong foundation for HR to promote a people-first culture and enhance employee engagement and experience.
Our initiatives included a revamped approach to appraisals, the introduction of welfare rooms, a professional respect charter and a hybrid working policy. We also introduced paid volunteering leave and launched the Recognise and Respect initiative, which has harvested over 750 nominations from our dedicated staff.
A ‘Management Academy’ was also put into place to develop our leaders, with over 65 managers participating in extensive training sessions. As a result of these efforts, strike actions ceased in 2023 and staff turnover was reduced significantly. We are proud to report a halved gender pay gap and a notable increase in satisfaction with professional development.
The judges highlighted our team’s dedication and the transformative impact of our initiatives on both internal perception and external reputation. They commended our HR team for their exemplary work in driving positive change and fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.
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