Gist Limited wins top national learning award
11/06/2009
Logistics business Gist Limited is celebrating its success today after winning an award at the national learndirect Achievement Awards Ceremony.
Logistics business Gist Limited is celebrating its success today after winning an award at the national learndirect Achievement Awards Ceremony.
Gist Limited, which has headquarters in Basingstoke, as well as premises outside Ipswich and in Crewe, won the national Large Company Award, sponsored by Irwin Mitchell, which recognises businesses that have supported learndirect training, recognising the part that learndirect can play in supporting business goals.
Gist is a logistics company that made the decision to prioritise staff training when it realised the range of potential benefits. For example, as a company whose vehicles travel a combined 75 million miles a year, it is very aware of its carbon footprint. Therefore, training on fuel efficiency was incorporated into NVQs, which has already lowered fuel usage, increasing profitability and reducing emissions. Since starting with learndirect, Gist has registered 900 employees, who have been delighted at the opportunities to train, gaining nationally-recognised qualifications.
On winning the national award, Mike Bousfield from Gist, said:
“We’ve been engaged with learndirect for some time now, with fantastic results that affect out profitability. We’re a company of some 5,000 employees, so to have 900 enrolled with learndirect makes us very proud. As an organisation we are stronger, as our people are totally committed to what we’re doing. They benefit as individuals, and we benefit as a company.”
The learndirect Achievement Awards, now in their third year, celebrate learners who are going that extra mile to learn new skills, businesses whose employees are gaining new qualifications, and the people and centres supporting them. The Awards recognise people from all walks of life, for example learners who have overcome personal difficulties or have returned to learning after many years, and businesses working with learndirect to train their workforce.
Gist Limited had previously won awards at the East of England, South East and North West regional learndirect Achievement Awards in July.
TV presenter Eamonn Holmes, who presented the awards with his wife Ruth Langsford said:
"Ruth and I are both delighted to support the learndirect Achievement Awards. We have worked with learndirect in the past to highlight the difference learning can make to people’s lives, and have seen first-hand how learners from across the UK are boosting their skills, improving their job prospects and becoming more confident. All the finalists are truly inspiring, and we were honoured to help celebrate their success at the national learndirect Achievement Awards ceremony.”
Chief Executive of learndirect, Sarah Jones said:
“The national winners and highly commended finalists have shown exceptional determination, and have gone that extra mile to learn new skills and improve their qualifications, or have supported others to achieve their goals. These finalists are an inspiration to millions of learners, support staff and businesses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and truly deserve recognition.”
Michael Longden, Associate Director at Irwin Mitchell, sponsor of the Company Award said:
“Irwin Mitchell is immensely proud to be sponsoring this year’s Achievement Awards and we are very pleased to be helping to support the important work learndirect does, investing in the businesses and the workforce of today and tomorrow.”