Putting its 138,000 employees first and improving their working life has resulted in Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd becoming the first, major food retailer to achieve corporate Investors in People recognition with effect from 27 February.
The Investors in People Standard is a tried and tested flexible framework that helps UK companies succeed and compete through improved people performance. With this achievement, Sainsbury’s has illustrated its commitment to providing solid frameworks for good communication, for sharing corporate objectives and for strengthening teamwork throughout the company. For example, in order to communicate with its diverse and multi-sited teams, Sainsbury’s has developed innovative ways to keep its employees in touch. This includes its own TV station that broadcasts to all personnel once a month, a dedicated staff intranet site and a regularly published staff magazine.
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Ruth Spellman, Chief Executive of Investors in People UK believes that Sainsbury’s determination to obtain recognition will have far-reaching business benefits: “Sainsbury’s achievement and commitment to Investors in People is remarkable. Not only will its staff feel the benefit, customers will as well – initial research has shown that there is a very positive correlation between the Investors in People Standard and increased customer satisfaction. When you think Sainsbury’s has 10 million customers every week, that’s a lot of satisfied people”.
Sainsbury’s is already reaping the tangible benefits of Investors in People. The implementation of the Standard across the national network of Sainsbury’s stores has resulted in raised staff morale and created a greater sense of common purpose.
David Worsfold, Managing Assessor for Investors in People, says, ‘When we asked staff the question, “Does this store have a sense of direction?” we were met with a resounding answer: “Yes…..and its UP!”‘
Sir Peter Davis, Chief Executive of Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd. said: “Investors in People recognition is a huge boost for Sainsbury’s. This certification hinges on good teamwork, communications and sharing corporate objectives. These goals in turn will help us to keep our customers happy now and in the future. This gives Sainsbury’s an excellent basis for future growth.”
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By GlobalDataThe recognition process has taken three years to complete and involved 450 assessments by 45 Assessors interviewing a total of 13,500 Sainsbury’s employees – ranging from senior managers to shop-floor colleagues.
Sainsbury’s has taken a unique approach to gaining Investors in People recognition – from the ground up rather than the top down. This means that almost every unit which makes up Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd has gone through the process individually to become recognised in their own right. The corporate Investors in People recognition brings the individual store recognitions into a cohesive whole, ensuring that throughout the organisation people development procedures are consistent and focussed.
Notes to editors:
The Investors in People Standard was developed in 1990 in collaboration with the UK’s leading businesses both large and small. The Standard provides a framework for improving business performance and competitiveness, through good practice in human resource development.
Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd encompasses every aspect of the Sainsbury’s retail operation: from the stores and petrol stations to home shopping and distribution/logistics. It also includes all the support roles at head office such as finance, buying, marketing etc. There are 451 business units within Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, of which 440 will have achieved their own individual recognition by 27 February. Of the 451 business units, 427 are individual stores, seven are depots and the remainder are based within Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd Head Office. Sainsbury’s currently employs over 138,000 people, 70% work part-time, 30% work full-time. 58% of Sainsbury’s staff are female.
There are currently 21,500 organisations that have achieved recognition under the Investors in People Standard.
There are currently five million three hundred thousand people involved with the Investors in People Standard. This equates to 22.5% of the UK workforce. Companies that have achieved the Standard have been successful in adopting and maintaining its four fundamental principles: commitment to develop all employees to achieve business goals and targets; regularly reviewing training and development needs in the context of the business; taking relevant action to meet training and development throughout people’s employment, and lastly; evaluating outcomes of training and development for individuals and the organisation as a basis for continuous improvement.
The Investors in People Standard is promoted and developed by Investors in People UK – a public body whose main stakeholder is the Department for Education and Employment. The organisation has responsibility for setting the Standard, driving its progress forward through national promotion, monitoring of quality, and ensuring its continuing credibility and relevance to all UK employers and employees.
The local delivery of Investors in People is currently through the Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) in England and Wales, the Local Enterprise Companies (LECs) in Scotland, and the Training and Employment Agency (T&EA) in Northern Ireland. All these agencies provide support to the organisations in their local area. The Standard is promoted at an industry sector level by National Training Organisations (NTOs).
From April 2001, the TEC network will become the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) network in England. The LSCs together with the forthcoming Small Business Service will take over the delivery of the Standard in England. In Wales, TECs become the Council for Education and Training in Wales (CETW).
Telephone: 020 7695 8252
Contact: Lindsay Muir
