VERDANT INVESTS IN ITS SOUTH BEDS PEOPLE

Dunstable, 2nd March 2009 – Municipal services specialist Verdant has won Investors In People (IIP) accreditation for the operations that deliverrecycling, refuse and street cleansing services for South Bedfordshire District Council.

This IIP award, Verdant’s first among its contracts for 24 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, was required as part of the South Beds contract, and took around six months to complete.

IIP is a recognised pan-industry award that maps and monitors company investment in staff development and training. It helps workers understand the importance and value of their individual performances, and the positive impact that they have on overall company performance.

Verdant human resources manager Lia Clark worked closely with contract portfolio manager Chris Halfpenny and South Beds business manager Shaun Laird to meet the challenging requirements.

She said: “Working with IIP assessors Quality South East, we mapped the indicators on which we would be measured, and then developed and rolled out toolbox talks to all staff at the South Beds depot.

“We highlighted the staff training that is available, such as induction, manual handling, driver training and so on, that enables staff to carry out their duties professionally, safely and effectively, and so meet the service requirements of South Beds council and its residents.”

Performance indicators will be reviewed over time, and processes adjusted as required. She added that Verdant’s historic ISO 9001, 14001 and 18001 accreditations meant many systems for IIP accreditation were already in place.

Speaking on behalf of his staff, Shaun Laird said that they are encouraged to suggest how Verdant’s services can be delivered more effectively. A suggestion box is available, and managers have an open door policy to foster staff dialogue.

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About Verdant

Verdant Group Plc (www.verdant-group.co.uk), part of the fast-growing, recycling-led Greenstar UK group (www.greenstar.co.uk), provides high quality, efficient recycling, refuse, cleansing and grounds maintenance services for 24 local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland. It makes over 55 million recycling and refuse collections annually from nearly 1.1 million households, and employs over 1,600 staff operating with 600+ vehicles. Hundreds of staff are participating in a government-backed skills and awareness training programme which leads to a recognised vocational qualification. Verdant’s Arun Green Waste Club in West Sussex won Best Partnership Project at the 2007 National Recycling Awards, and Verdant also won the Best Commitment to Health & Safety category of the 2005 National Recycling Awards.

For further media information, contact:

Blair Drummond, Verdant PR consultant – tel (m) 07798 686 217, email blair.drummond@btopenworld.com