Being a great employer is crucial to having a successful business, according to the Principal of one of Lancashire’s leading colleges.
Dr Lis Smith, Principal and Chief Executive at Preston’s College, said that at a time when businesses are battling for the best talent in their industries, being recognised as a good employer was a crucial factor.
She said that in today’s world of reviews of all businesses being publicly available online, it was now easier than ever for a reputation to be enhanced by a happy workforce.
Preston’s College is sponsoring the Employer of the Year category at this year’s Be Inspired Business Awards, the BIBAs, which was won by Lytham-based Excel Fostering last year.
Dr Smith said: “However, being a good employer is about a lot more than just keeping hold of your staff.”
“These days, people look for more than a good wage and hours which suit them, they quite rightly want a business which is going to develop them personally and in their skills and which offers a great working environment.
“All of these things and so many others go in to being a good employer and will help a business to retain their very top talent.
“Preston’s College has a strong reputation of working with businesses to ensure they develop their people and become great employers.”
The Principal is part of the judging panel which will select the winner of the Employer of the Year category for this year’s BIBAs.
The awards opened for applications last week to its 18 award categories which include Construction Business of the Year, Family Business of the Year and Third Sector Business of the Year.
All entries will be eligibility-checked and whittled down to a shortlist for each category which will be announced on May 2.
The shortlisted firms will face the judging panel in a face-to-face interview, which get underway on May 15, and those which make the finalists’ shortlist will then receive a visit to their business from the judges as part of a second round of judging starting in June
