NAFD secures Investors in People accreditation

The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) has been awarded the ‘We invest in people standard’ accreditation from Investors in People (IiP). 

The accreditation is said to recognise that the NAFD’s principles and practices around supporting people are in place and that “everyone understands how to use them to make work better”.

Investors in People is an internationally recognised organisation that was founded in 1991 as a government project. The community interest company accredits organisations for meeting its ‘We invest in our people’ framework – which rates the working experience against a range of criteria including values, leadership, empowerment and recognition. 

The assessment considers the organisation’s achievement against a framework, refined over three decades, that measures performance, and the process also includes direct feedback from employees.

In its report, Investors in People noted:

• 93% of staff said the NAFD is a great place to work and 85% of its people believe the NAFD makes a positive impact on society
• The National Office team talked about a caring and supportive environment, and said that they are committed to helping the NAFD achieve its ambitions.
• That everyone can feel a change in emphasis, to focus on members and their needs
• The National Office team are proud of how responsive and agile they were in responding  to the Competition and Marketing Authority’s findings and in setting up the Independent Funeral Standards Organisation
• IiP noted staff pride in improvements to the education programme as it grows from three courses to a range of learning activities to help people succeed

Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People, said: “We’d like to congratulate the NAFD. Being accredited with We invest in people is a remarkable effort for any organisation, and places the NAFD in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people.”

Reflecting on the accreditation, NAFD Chief Executive Jon Levett added: “I am delighted that the NAFD has secured the valuable Investors in People accreditation, after a gap of many years.

“While we still have much work to do to ensure we are delivering an outstanding working environment in every aspect of how the NAFD supports, develops and recognises the achievements of its people, this is an important milestone.” 

He added: “For the NAFD to be able to deliver for its members, it must first deliver for its staff – who are the assets that make NAFD membership so valuable. The team works incredibly hard and recognition like this, and the recent Trade Association of the Year award, demonstrate that we are heading in the right direction.

“I would like to thank Director of Education and Development, Karen Van-Richardson, for leading this project and for the enthusiasm and willing participation of the whole NAFD team in helping us achieve the accreditation.”