Companies and organisations representing almost 700 people on Lewis and Harris won commendations last week for their work in supporting, developing and organising their staff and employees.

The organisations - which varied in size from the Harris Tweed Authority and Anderson Associates with two employees each to WISCO Processing with 143 staff and Stolt Sea Farm with 125, were all awarded Investors in People (IiP) status.  Of the 26 organisations achieving the accolade, seven received their IIP plaque for the first time while 19 - including Western Isles Enterprise (WIE), who organised the event - achieved IiP re-recognition.

The awards were given to 16 of the organisations at a special event held Stornoway's Territorial Army Hall on Thursday night (3rd July).

Western Isles MP Calum Macdonald - a special guest at Thursday's event - praised the organisations and companies for the efforts to meet the standards required and those staff involved in IiP at WIE for their skill in managing the programme.  "I congratulate the IiP team for their great contribution towards business in the Western Isles," he said.

Mr Macdonald pointed out that the Islands had the highest level of commitment to IiP compared to any other area in the UK.  He also added that the economic prospects of the Islands were brighter than for some time with the re-opening of the Arnish Yard, the growth in the tourism industry - which is far outstripping similar developments in other regions - and the prospects presented in the renewable energy sector.

A number of tourism-related businesses won or retained IiP status including the Western Isles Tourist Board with 19 staff; the Rodel Hotel with nine full-time staff as well as seasonal workers; and the Harris Tweed Shop in Tarbert with two staff plus seasonal employees.

Mr Macdonald called on Island businesses to work together and make joint approaches about issues of concern to further their common cause.  He paid tribute to the recently revitalised Western Isles Chamber of Commerce for their work so far and said he looked forward to being involved with them further.

The awards were presented by Ann MacCallum, chair of the Chamber of Commerce and manager of Stornoway's Woolworth store.  She spoke of the need to value the individual contributions of members of staff who too often were lumped together as "human resources" rather than being regarded as people.  Successful operation of companies, whether they are fish farms or construction firms, was about "recognition of the needs and skills within our workforces."

The event was introduced by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) board member, Mr Duncan Macinnes, who is secretary of the Western Isles Fishermen's Association and the Federation of Highlands and Islands Fishermen.  He is also chairman of the Western Isles local advisory board of Careers Scotland and until his appointment to the HIE board, was chairman of WIE.

Mr Macinnes said: "An occasion like this allows people to see the positive things which are going on in the Western Isles economy.  The range of organisations involved in these awards shows that many are now valuing their staff and recognising the need for investing in their own workforce." 

He also spoke of HIE's commitment to reviving the economy of the Western Isles saying: "The key to making the economy work is to make sure that the companies we have are training their workforces,"