Star Refrigeration is crowing about its Investors in People Platinum and Investors in Young People Gold reaccreditation, but is it genuine kudos or just HR puff?
Star Refrigeration, the Glasgow-based refrigeration engineering firm, is chuffed to bits with its continued accreditation from Investors in People (IIP), bagging Platinum status alongside a Gold gong for its supposed commitment to young 'uns. The company, which has been in the IIP club since 2003, claims it uses the IIP frameworks to "benchmark our progress in areas including empowering and involving people, recognition and reward, building capability and creating sustainable success."
Sounds grand on paper, doesn't it?
The official blurb highlights improvements in "collaborative working and knowledge sharing" and supposed strides made in recruitment, now including sharing employees career stories and shoehorning company values into the interview process. Recognition and reward schemes, along with a regular going-over of the company’s benefits package, are also waved about like shiny toys. But will it mean a hill of beans to the blokes on the shop floor?
Platinum Plated?
According to Star Refrigeration, the Investors in Young People framework has seen blinkin' miracles in attracting fresh blood through apprentice and trainee programmes. The company also bangs on about increased engagement with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiatives, supposedly raising awareness of industry opportunities from early education through to higher education.
Filling the talent pipeline is one thing, keeping the water flowing is quite another.
The press release also gives a nod to the sharing of knowledge and support for new team members as a strength within the organisation. Heart-warming, innit?
The importance of knowledge transfer in a company like Star Refrigeration, which grapples with proper complicated industrial systems, cannot be overstated. Experienced engineers are walking encyclopedias of tacit knowledge that is critical for keeping systems running sweetly. Effective mentorship and knowledge-sharing programmes are vital for passing this know-how on to the next generation.
Golden Promise?
Star Refrigeration reckons they are "committed to tracking our progress and developing our people practices to continue to make Star a great place to work." Let's hope this commitment stretches further than the bi-annual box-ticking exercise required to keep their Platinum status. You can even Download File or View Fullscreen the certificate, if you're that way inclined.
Still, if you fancy joining this award-winning outfit, they are accepting applications sent to [email protected]. And here's a splash of their logo.
I'll get my coat.
