NAG Achieves Investors in People Gold Standard

March 2012. The Numerical Algorithms Group (NAG) is awarded the highest official Investors in People (IIP) standard after a stringent review process. NAG has always prided itself on its ethos of investing in its most precious asset, its employees, and so it made perfect sense to try to obtain the highest formal acknowledgement of this via IIP.

NAG's UK offices were originally awarded the prestigious accreditation in April 2006 in recognition of its best practice employee policy, and procedures for employee care and development, NAG then maintained the standard once again during the 2009 review.

Shortly after NAG’s 2009 review, the IIP Framework changed dramatically, giving organisations the challenge of achieving Bronze, Silver or Gold Standards. So confident was NAG of its continual drive to improve best business and employee practice, NAG set out to achieve the Gold Standard. NAG was notified that it was successful in March 2012. By achieving Gold status NAG is now part of the top 1% of UK organisations recognised by Investors in People.

Investors in People is a national quality standard which defines good practice for improving an organization's performance through its people. Developed in 1990 by a partnership of leading businesses and national organizations in the UK, the standard helps organizations to improve performance and realize objectives through the management and development of their people. Since it was developed the standard has been reviewed every three years to ensure that it remains relevant, accessible and attractive to all.

During the assessment conducted by IIP representatives, all areas of NAG's policy and procedures came under intense scrutiny including their appraisal system, personal development and training, and management styles and techniques.

NAG operates an open communication system ensuring that employees are aware of business strategy, company targets and objectives, and product development. This openness promotes a healthy atmosphere where new ideas are welcomed and positively encouraged.

Susan Shayler, Chief Operating Officer of NAG Ltd who headed up the IIP team, said "NAG continually strives to develop the skills of its staff and to attract and retain the very best talent. Our people's extraordinary abilities are at the heart of our mission to provide numerical software and HPC services across the globe. It is therefore great to win the highest level Investors in People award as this acknowledges our most precious resource, our people. Gold makes us stand out from the crowd."