The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has been recognised as one of Britain’s best places to work after gaining Gold accreditation from Investors in People (IIP), the international benchmark for workplace standards and people management.

The Gold accolade, which is achieved by just 17% of organisations seeking IIP accreditation, was awarded to SMMT Group – including SMMT, Industry Forum and The Motor Ombudsman – for its ‘advanced’ levels of organisational leadership, with an emphasis on transparency, recognition, wellbeing and empowerment to encourage innovation and collaborative working. 

SMMT was recognised for its progressive people-focused policies, including all-staff engagement in decision-making, investment in career development, creating a culture that recognises high performance, developing flexible working practices, establishing an extensive network of employee support groups, and striving to ensure the workplace is diverse and inclusive of all needs. 

In addition, as part of SMMT’s remit to represent the UK automotive sector, the organisation was recognised for its commitment to promoting workplace best practice across the wider industry.

In 2022, under the auspices of the Automotive Council, SMMT established the sector’s first ever Diversity Charter, and it continues to support businesses in the sector with their own development, with a DE&I Toolkit, specialist workshops and events.

Katie Milbourn, SMMT Group HR director, said, “Every one of us at SMMT is essential to the Group’s success, so we support and develop everyone’s talents to help each other – and the wider sector – continue to thrive. As the voice of the automotive industry in the UK, it’s our duty and mission to set the highest standards, and we strive to ensure our people, with their expertise, experience and dedication, realise their full potential and support our members.” 

Tim Little, Investors in People practioner, said, “Following the Investors in People programme is a journey SMMT started quite a few years ago, and the organisation’s drive, foresight and determination have kept it on the path to success and achieving Gold.

”SMMT has embraced IIP as a force for growth and put it at the heart of what it does. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with SMMT and watching its successes over the years.” 

IIP Gold status builds on SMMT Group’s previous Bronze and Silver awards in 2015 and 2022, and reflects the organisation’s long-standing commitment to the highest standards of people management.

SMMT said it believes such an approach is essential not just to attract and retain the best talent but to enhance mental health and wellbeing in the workplace – particularly important given that stress, anxiety and depression accounted for more than half of all workplace-related illness in the UK last year.

Investors in People was founded by the UK government in 1991 and has since become a globally recognised certification of best practice for modern, high performing workplaces.

The scheme requires an organisation to work closely with a practitioner to review its ‘people strategy’ – or its policies to attract, develop, retain, inspire and engage employees – as well as its long-term progress plan.

The review also requires anonymous employee feedback on the organisation’s people strategy through surveys and interviews.

 

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