Advo has retained our Investors in Gold Accreditation, an independent evaluation on how we support, reward and generally look after our people. This is a fantastic achievement with only 17% of those organisations that achieve Investors in People recognition actually meet the high criteria for the gold standard.
The IIP accreditation is an independent assessment of an organisation which looks at its leadership and how people are supported, managed and inspired to achieve more.
The summary from Investors in People said…
“Advo demonstrates a strong and positive culture, reflected in the organisation achieving Gold accreditation through the Investors in People framework. This reflects the strength of leadership, clearly embedded values and effective people practices. Survey results show consistently high levels of engagement, with people describing Advo as a great place to work and expressing confidence in its future direction.
Leadership plays an important role in shaping this culture. Leaders and managers are visible, approachable and trusted, communicating openly and transparently about plans and future developments. People spoke positively about the support they receive from managers and the confidence they have in leadership. The organisation’s values are clearly understood and widely
shared, providing a strong cultural foundation that supports collaboration, accountability and high performance.
Advo’s ambition is to continue growing its reputation as a leading provider of HR and Payroll
services to SMEs, while also striving to be an employer that other organisations compare themselves to.
This ambition is underpinned by a strong focus on delivering excellent customer service. The organisation recruits, develops, rewards and retains people in ways that support this commitment, ensuring the right skills, behaviours and mindset are in place to deliver high-quality services to clients. Initiatives such as the continued development of systems and the renovation of Cobdown House demonstrate a forward-looking approach and a commitment to creating opportunities for future growth, collaboration and community engagement.
People are encouraged to use their initiative, contribute ideas and take ownership within their roles, supported by a collaborative environment where knowledge and expertise are openly shared.
Without exception, people spoke positively about the team and consistently described their colleagues as one of the best things about working at Advo. This was reflected across all discussions, from the Senior Leadership Team to individual conversations, highlighting the strength of relationships and the collaborative culture within the organisation.
Continuous learning is well established, with a wide range of learning and development opportunities available. A strong culture of appreciation also exists across the organisation, where people feel valued and recognised for their efforts and contribution. This combination of development opportunities and recognition helps ensure people remain engaged and motivated to perform at their best.
There is also a clear commitment to continuous improvement. Leaders actively seek insights from people, clients and external sources to help the organisation evolve and respond to changing client needs, legislation and market developments. People feel comfortable sharing ideas and suggestions, supported by a culture where new approaches are encouraged and learning from experience is valued.
Overall, Advo demonstrates many of the characteristics of a high-performing organisation. Its strong culture, trusted leadership and engaged people provide a solid foundation for continued growth and success. Achieving a strong Gold accreditation reflects the maturity of the organisation’s people practices and the positive environment created for its people.
The organisation is well on its way towards achieving High Performing status, and by continuing to build on its many strengths while progressing the opportunities identified in this report, Advo is well positioned to further strengthen its performance and deliver its long-term ambitions.
Congratulations upon achieving Investors in People Gold accreditation!”
Advo’s results by indicator
The results table shows Advo have achieved 1 indicator at the High Performance level, 7 at the Advanced level, and 1 indicator at Established level resulting in your Gold level award.
Advo have met 27 of the 27 themes at Developed level (D)
Advo have met 27 of the 27 themes at Established level (E)
Advo have met 25 of the 27 themes at Advanced level (A)
Advo have met 14 of the 27 themes at High Performing (HP)
