NOC awarded coveted Investors In People silver accreditation

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC) is delighted to announce that it has been awarded the Investors in People (IIP) silver accreditation – an accolade awarded to around 15% of organisations assessed.

This is the first time the NOC has achieved Silver, and reflects the positive progress made since our last assessment in 2018, especially during the last two years as we transitioned into a charity and navigated the pandemic.

Results from the recent staff survey, carried out by the IIP as part of their formal assessment process, showed 80% of staff agreed or strongly agreed that the NOC was a great place to work. Our people also believe that we have supported them exceptionally well during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our ‘Working Well – Living Well’ initiative is providing a measured and integrated approach to supporting the current and future wellbeing of our people. The Assessor says that this is one of the most advanced wellbeing strategies she has seen and we are to be commended on this.

Professor Ed Hill CBE, NOC Executive Director said, “To be given this award, by the organisation that sets the benchmark when it comes to people management, is testament of our shared commitment to a positive, values-focused internal culture. I’m delighted to know that staff feel supported and that they believe as I do, that their work has purpose and are proud to associate with the NOC’s world class reputation.”

The IIP framework model measures how well an organisation is doing at leading and supporting its people, compared to other organisations and companies in the industry. The NOC had to meet at least seven of the nine indicators at Silver level. This means we have the right principles in place, and our people and leaders make active efforts to check these are happening consistently throughout the organisation.

The NOC is incredibly proud of this achievement, and we are committed not only to maintaining the silver standard, but to exceeding it in the future. This is evidenced by publication this week of our Sustainability and Social Responsibility Strategy, which sets People as one of our five pillars of culture, alongside community, environment, operations and research ethics.

Carolyn Myers, Organisational Development, said, “I would especially like to thank the 26 people from across the NOC who sit on the IIP Working Group. They are acknowledged in the IIP report and we know that our IIP success would not have been possible without these champions of excellent staff engagement.”