Awards special
Championing People Award
December 2007
The Championing People in the Workplace Award was introduced two years ago to recognise lenders whose commitment to staff development starts at the very top of the organisation and whose training encourages professionalism in the workplace.
Evidence of systematic training is obviously important but in addition the judges looked at how the nominees help individual employees to realise their full potential.
The first ever winner of our Championing People Award was Nationwide Building Society for its positive commitment to developing people. And last year’s winner was West Bromwich Building Society for developing a coaching ethos.
This year the judges chose Cumberland Building Society for its training and development programme and introducing internal communication initiatives.
The society offers a range of training courses and has developed a ‘Train Track’, which is a visual aid so staff can clearly see the career path available to them and the training needed to progress to each of the roles within the branch network. All branches have a module based training library, with each module representing different stages within the ‘Train Track’. There is also a two-year graduate development scheme.
In addition, Cumberland has introduced a number of new initiatives during 2006/2007 relating to staff development and to encourage open communication. These include staff briefing sessions, questionnaires and forums, executive attendance at staff meetings and the introduction of a staff newsletter.
There is also a Head Office Incentive Scheme that rewards staff with an annual bonus to encourage suggestions on improving customer service and efficiency. Plus a One Step Beyond Nomination Scheme where staff can nominate other staff members who they believe have gone ‘one step beyond’.
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