SDS awarded Investors in People Platinum for second time
Only 9% of organisations achieve We Invest in People (IIP) accreditation at Platinum level, placing Skills Development Scotland among the top-performing organisations globally.
IIP benchmarks the effectiveness of leadership and management practices and is an internationally protected trademark which only accredited organisations have the exclusive right to display.
Investors in People took time to assess SDS’s strategy, culture and working practices, and in addition to desk research, invited more than 40 colleagues across Scotland to be interviewed.
Assessors highlighted that SDS demonstrates sustained high performing characteristics across leadership, values, empowerment, performance management, recognition, work design, continuous improvement and stakeholder integration.
We are proud to be re-accredited for Platinum status for Investors in People, which we first achieved in 2023. This award reaffirms our unwavering commitment to harnessing the talent of our people and providing the best possible services for our customers across Scotland.
Carolyn Anderson
Director of Human Resources
SDS viewed by many as an employer of choice
Irene MacDonald, Investors in People Practitioner said:
“SDS has demonstrated sustained commitment to the Investors in People framework over time and continues to demonstrate the characteristics of a Platinum-level organisation.
“Several consistent strengths emerged during the assessment and taken together they illustrate that SDS is a mature, resilient and strategically aligned organisation.
“Leadership, governance, performance discipline and continuous improvement are embedded across the organisation and have been sustained during a period of significant structural reform.
“This resilience is significant.”
Assessors recognised a number of strengths
- Sustained organisational excellence, with achievement of 7-star recognition under the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) framework, representing the highest level of independent external validation of organisational excellence.
- A strong “golden thread” from national economic priorities through overarching organisational plans into team and individual objectives, despite significant internal structural reform.
- People metrics are treated as strategic indicators rather than operational afterthoughts.
- High levels of employee engagement, with colleagues remaining committed to organisational purpose and impact.
- Continuing to maintain strong employee engagement and critical service delivery across Scotland’s skills ecosystem whilst operating in a complex environment.
- An embedded public service ethos, with pride in supporting customers and organisational values reflected in decision-making, fairness considerations and stakeholder relationships.
- A mature continuous improvement culture, with improvement both systematic and evidence led.
- Investment in future capability, demonstrating forward-thinking leadership.