HIAL has secured Investors in People accreditation through its commitment to staff development and training at its 10 airports and head office.

The company, which employs almost 300 staff in locations from Islay and Campbeltown to Kirkwall and Sumburgh, has been working towards IIP accreditation since July 2002.

Local co-ordinators at the 10 airports and head office have been instrumental in developing the IIP programme that has involved all aspects of the company’s operations, from Airport Fire Service to engineering and Air Traffic Control.

A permanent staff liaison forum was established during the process and in September its members will start training to become internal IIP assessors to continue the development programme across the organisation.

HIAL has also implemented an expanded training and development programme as a result of working towards the IIP standard.

Bob Macleod, Managing Director of HIAL, said: "We operate across a huge geographical area and place great emphasis on communication, training and development. Our business involves a mixture of disciplines and we recognise the role that IIP plays in business improvement and the development of our employees within the company.

"Our Board set IIP accreditation as a development target for the company and I would pay tribute to the employees across the company at the 10 airports and head office who have been instrumental in us securing the IIP standard.

"Our employees are a huge asset and have been central to the success of our evolution as a business in recent years. They also fulfil a variety of demanding roles across the region and their development will continue to underpin our business improvement programme," said Mr Macleod.

ENDS