Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones (right) presents the Investors in People Gold award to Jeremy Salisbury (left) and Aled Roberts, directors at Salisbury and Co Accountants, St Asaph, seen here with the successful team
A North Wales business has become just the second accountancy firm in the country to achieve gold accreditation for Investors in People (IIP).
Salisburys, which has its head office in St Asaph, is also one of only 96 organisations in Wales to hold the accolade, and just the 12th chartered accountants in the UK to attain the highest standard.
Secretary of State for Wales, David Jones, MP for Clwyd West, visited the firm to present the award and congratulate employees for their commitment and hard work that enabled the achievement.
He also praised Salisburys’ proactive staff training and development programme, which resulted in exceptional customer service, and contributed to the award of the gold standard.
Jeremy Salisbury, owner and director, said:
“Achieving the gold IIP standard is very pleasing and a credit to each member of the team.
“Everyone has a positive attitude, there is a friendly atmosphere and there was total commitment to earning this award. It’s the employees that won the award, not the company.
“In turn, the company believes in investing in its staff and their training. We put apprentices through training and are always willing to fund further professional qualifications. Our staff retention level is high, which helps in continuity and the quality of our service for clients.”
Salisburys recruits a mixture of university graduates and school leavers and provides a solid career path to becoming a chartered accountant. It currently has three employees studying for qualifications, following in the footsteps of many of their senior colleagues.
Aled Roberts, 33, of St Asaph, joined the company straight from Bangor University and is now the firm’s second equity partner.
He said:
“I studied management with accountancy at university and when I arrived at Salisburys I was supported through the ACA (Association of Chartered Accountants) course to become a chartered accountant.
“My development did not stop there and in 2011 I was made an equity partner.
“I am also responsible for the training side and I strive to provide the same support I received when I was in that position. Without that input I wouldn’t have progressed.”
David Jones said:
“This award is recognised as the ultimate accolade in terms of staff commitment, customer relations and maximising new business opportunities.
“The most important resource in a business is its people. Salisburys achieving the gold award is a tribute to those people and the creative and imaginative management of that resource.
“I’m happy to join them in celebrating this achievement.”
IIP helps businesses to realise the potential of their employees, improve standards and gain accreditation to showcase it. With the focus on areas such as communication and staff training, IIP levels run from ‘standard’, with 39 evidence requirements, through to ‘gold’, which has an additional 126 requirements.
Salisburys, which employs 15, took the unorthodox approach of going for gold at the first opportunity, despite not previously applying for or holding any IIP level.
Jeremy, who first started his own business in 1994, added:
“We were advised that we were at a good IIP silver standard before we made our submission. After reviewing the criteria we felt that the business had a real shot at attaining gold standard, which it did.
“The team’s role in winning the award has not gone unnoticed and the company is giving them the day off work in addition to a team lunch to celebrate.”
