Crusader, a real investor!

Crusader, the shop and display equipment specialist who design and manufacture tailor-made retail and point of sale units for leading UK and international companies has just been awarded the Investors in People standard. A rigorous evaluation process was undertaken by Business Link and in December Crusader proudly received the IIP standard.

The Investors in People Standard is a business improvement tool designed to improve and advance an organisation’s performance through its people. Developed in 1990 by a partnership of leading businesses and national organisations, the Standard helps organisations to improve performance and realise 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. The most recent review was completed in November 2004.

Investors in People provides a flexible framework, which any organisation can adapt for its own requirements. It mirrors the business planning cycle (plan, do, review) making it clear for organisations to follow and implement in their own planning cycle.

In order to obtain the prestigious Investors in People standard, Crusader had to demonstrate that they had successfully planned, managed and executed the three stage framework process. This process consists of developing strategies to improve the performance of the organisation, taking action to improve the performance of the organisation and evaluating the impact of the implemented changes upon the performance of the organisation.

The full evaluation process undertaken by Business Link was carried out at the company’s headquarters and manufacturing facilities based at Failsworth near Oldham and follows on from the companies successful implementation of lean manufacturing principles during 2004/2005.

Steve Turner, director for Crusader said “Everyone agrees that people are an organisation's greatest asset, and we all know that for an organisation to succeed everyone has to perform well. To achieve this, people need the right knowledge, skills and motivation to work efficiently”.

Steve continues “Obtaining the Investors in People standard has given us a fantastic framework to enable us all to achieve our personal goals and the benefits that this will also bring to Crusader as a company is almost immeasurable. This is another enormous step in the ongoing development of Crusader”.

Crusader currently employs 50 experienced staff with turnover in the region of £2.7m per year. The company will soon be celebrating 40 successful years in business at its current home in Manchester.