A designer label clothes outlet in Dingwall will have a logo of a different kind on display from today, as the owner has been presented with an Investors in People plaque.

Branded's owner, businesswoman Joanna Hunter, received the plaque from Ross and Cromarty Enterprise (RACE) chairman Sally Cartwright at a small ceremony today (Tuesday 24 June) in recognition of her commitment to staff development.

Mrs Hunter signed up to the national programme to help with her ambitious plans for expanding her business Highland-wide.  She is on the verge of opening up a second Branded clothes shop in Fort William, and was keen to get the formula right at the Dingwall branch so it could be used as a model for future stores.

Keen to adopt best practice in all aspects of the business, Mrs Hunter saw IIP as an important business development tool and is confident that the commitment and high standards that the award represents will ensure the future success of her business.  She said: 

"I knew that the systems I had in place in the Dingwall store were working well but I was keen to get an external evaluation.  Being assessed was really useful as it highlighted what aspects were already working well and suggested areas for improvement.

"Investors in People has made a real difference to how I manage my staff and has helped to lay the foundations for a training programme for new and existing employees.  My staff were already highly motivated but IIP has shown me how to channel and maintain their energy.  I have big plans for the future, and unless I have a happy workforce behind me, then the business isn't going to get far."

Branded has been serving fashion-conscious shoppers with all the latest trends for three-and-a-half years and has seen turnover treble during that time.  The Dingwall store employs three full-time and four part-time staff and Mrs Hunter hopes to recruit seven sales staff for the new Fort William store.

Mrs Hunter received help and advice throughout the Investors in People process from RACE.  Its chairman Sally Cartwright said:  "It sounds cliché, but employees really are a company's greatest asset and if employers make the effort to invest in them then the benefits can be huge.  Businesses that have achieved IIP status report better employee recruitment and retention, improved motivation and productivity and ultimately, increased turnover, so gaining IIP status is definitely something that is worth the effort.

"Joanna has big plans for her business and she realised that having a system in place would help her employees adjust to the inevitable changes and new pressures facing them as the business expands.  She has adopted very high standards throughout her business and I am sure that will pay off in the future. "