John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance Awarded Investors in People
7/7/2011 5:06 AM EST
PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
John O’Conner (GM) Limited, a grounds maintenance business established in 1969, is the first organisation to be awarded Investors in People accreditation by Lantra Sector Skills Council, the land-based and environmental Investors in People Centre.
John O’Conner (GM) Limited holds contracts with local authorities, education establishments, housing associations and businesses in the corporate sector across the South of England, Greater London and the Midlands. The organisation employs between 350 and 450 people, depending upon seasonal demands.
The business prides itself on its professionalism and high quality of service and is already accredited to ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 14001 (environmental management), OHSAS 18001 (occupational health and safety management) and ISO 10002 (customer care) standards. This was the first time John O’Conner (GM) Limited has been formally assessed against the Investors in People Standard.
John O’Conner, Chairman of John O’Conner (GM) Ltd said: “You have to go the extra mile to make sure the customers can see your dedication. People are at the heart of John O’Conner and we invest in them because we believe in them.”
Investors in People is a business improvement tool which supports staff development linked with continuously looking to improve the quality of service delivery. Investors in People supports and accredits employers that follow a structured business development programme. Research shows that Investors in People helps improve the financial performance of a business, by helping them continually strive to deliver more services for less.*
Estelle Caddoo, Investors in People Assessor for Lantra said: “John O’Conner (GM) Limited lives by the business values that Investors in People is built upon. The organisation invests time, money and resources in developing its people through formal and informal learning routes. We have concluded that John O’Conner (GM) Ltd meets the requirements of the Investors in People Standard and I am happy to congratulate them as Lantra’s first accredited business.”
Lantra is one of five newly approved centres, and is the first and only Sector Skills Council (SSC) to have the opportunity and responsibility to deliver Investors in People. The programme is run by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES).
For more information on Investors in People or to find out how it can help your business grow, please visit
www.lantra.co.uk/investors-in-people or email
or call 02476 858408. To find out more about John O’Conner (GM) Ltd, visit
www.johnoconner.co.uk or call 0845 604 7302.
*Cranfield School of Management Report
ENDS
ISSUED BY
Lantra Press Office
Samuel Zelmer-Jackson, PR Co-ordinator
Tel: 02476 858 418 or email
CREDIT FOR PHOTO
L-R Matt O’Conner, John O’Conner, Ian Pitkin and Neil Cain
John O’Conner (GM) Limited accepting their Investors in People Plaque
John O’Conner, of John O’Conner (GM) Ltd, has been providing grounds maintenance services since 1969.
NOTES TO EDITOR
About John O’Conner (GM) Ltd
• John O’Conner (Grounds Maintenance) Ltd was founded by its Chairman, John O’Conner, in 1969 and its Head Office is based at Welwyn, Hertfordshire.
• Operating throughout the UK the Company provides Grounds Maintenance, Landscape and Arboriculture services in the public and private sector.
• In 2008 John O’Conner achieved internationally recognised standards for their business procedures and policies:
• ISO 9001 – Quality Management
• ISO 14001 – Environmental Management
• ISO 18001 – Health & Safety Management
About Investors in People
• Investors in People offers a practical, flexible and easy to use framework for improving business productivity, performance and competitiveness in organisations of all types and sizes through good practice in people management.
• An organisation that has achieved Investors in People has been successful in adopting and maintaining its three fundamental principles:
1. Plan - developing strategies to improve the performance of the organisation, from business goals to leadership strategies;
2. Do - implementing those strategies, taking action to improve the performance of the organisation;
3. Review - evaluating and adjusting those strategies, measuring their impact on the performance of the organisation.
• Lantra is the first and only Sector Skills Council approved to operate as an Investor in People Centre, and it is only licensed to deliver within England.
About Lantra
• Lantra is the Sector Skills Council for land-based and environmental industries, working to ensure these businesses access the training, qualifications, skills and knowledge they need.
• Lantra represents 17 industries: agricultural livestock and crops; animal care; animal technology; aquaculture; environmental conservation; equine; farriery; fencing; fisheries management; floristry; game and wildlife management; land-based engineering; horticulture, landscaping and sports turf; production horticulture; trees and timber and veterinary activities.
• By working together with the sector, Lantra leads research on skills issues and business needs, sets national standards and develops qualifications to meet modern business needs and help businesses grow through skills.