CHANNEL 4 GAIN INVESTORS IN PEOPLE AWARD

CHANNEL 4 have become the first major UK broadcaster to gain the Government’s coveted Investors in People (IIP) award.
Reinforcing the Channel’s reputation in training and development within the media sector, the awarding of IIP status to Channel 4 is the culmination of a four-year development plan at the channel, which publicly committed to meeting the nationally recognised training standard in January 1996.
Channel 4 Chief Executive Michael Jackson (pictured) said “The enthusiasm, imagination and commitment of our staff makes Channel 4 the most creative and stimulating place to work in British television and I am delighted we can repay their investment in the channel with a reciprocal investment in their development. Channel 4 spends a higher percentage of its income on training than other broadcasters and the award of IIP status confirms our determination to raise standards and to set an example for others to follow.”
Ruth Spellman, Chief Executive of Investors in People UK, said: “We’re delighted at the dedication and commitment that channel 4 has towards the investment in its key business strength – its employees. Channel 4 is the first major terrestrial television company to achieve the Standard and I am sure that out tried and tested flexible framework will help it to stay at the forefront of the British broadcasting industry.”
In order to achieve IIP status Channel 4 implemented a variety of new initiatives. Among them was the introduction a new channel-wide training programme, addressing core needs in areas such as management development and business awareness and IT.
Channel 4 also revamped their intranet and introduced annual progress and development reviews for all staff to assess the achievements and training needs of each worker and to set clear future objectives.
A national framework aimed at improving business performance and competitiveness, the IIP standard was developed during 1990 by the National Training Task Force in partnership with leading business personnel, professional and employee organisations including CBI, the TUC and the Institute of Personnel and Development.
The scheme is funded through the Department for Education and Employment.
(CMcL)