Celebrating Our Investors in People Reaccreditation

We’re delighted to have been reaccredited as an Investors in People organisation, an achievement that means a great deal to all of us at Vision Arch.

For me, having led the reaccreditation process, it has been a particularly rewarding opportunity to reflect on how far we have come, what we value as a business, and, most importantly, how we can continue to make Vision Arch a great place to work.

While reaccreditation is something to celebrate, it is also an opportunity to pause and look honestly at how we support our people. For us, investing in our people has never been about simply achieving a recognised standard. It is about creating a culture where people feel supported, listened to, valued and able to develop.

Putting People at the Heart of What We Do

At Vision Arch, our people are fundamental to everything we achieve. Our work depends on collaboration, knowledge and experience, but it also depends on the relationships we build with one another. From the office to site, every person plays an important role in delivering the quality of work and service that our clients expect from us.

That is why our people-focused culture is something we are continually working on. It is not a finished project, and it is certainly not something that can be measured by an accreditation alone. Investors in People gives us a valuable framework to step back from the day-to-day and consider whether we are doing the right things for our team, as well as where there may be opportunities to do better.

The Value of Listening

One of the most valuable parts of the reaccreditation process was the opportunity to listen. It gave our people a chance to share their experiences, talk about what they feel we do well and highlight areas where we can continue to improve. Having that honest feedback is incredibly important.

We’ve managed to achieve this accreditation during a period of substantial growth, change and business transformation, which makes it even more meaningful. It reflects our continued commitment to investing in our people while also growing and developing the company.

What the Assessment Told Us

Our overall benchmark score was 734, which is six points above the Investors in People average and nine points above the Construction industry average. Managing performance was our highest-ranking indicator, which is particularly encouraging and reflects the importance we place on supporting our people to perform at their best.

Our employees continue to describe Vision Arch as a great place to work, with our values clearly understood and strongly shared across the team. Flexibility and internal progression remain real strengths and an important part of the employee experience. There is also a strong sense of pride in the quality, complexity and reputation of the business.

It was also encouraging to see that communication has continued to strengthen, with employees’ voices actively encouraged across the business. Our approach to reward and recognition has become more visible and inclusive, while our continued focus on wellbeing reflects our commitment to supporting our people as we grow.

Looking ahead, there are a number of developments across Vision Arch that give us real confidence about the future. Our IT and HR teams are continuing to support the business, alongside ongoing investment and planned improvements in our systems, technology and facilities. All of these developments are about creating the right foundations for our people and the business as we continue to grow.

As a business, it is easy to become focused on projects, deadlines and the demands of day-to-day operations. Taking the time to listen to our people reminds us that the way we work is just as important as what we deliver. It also helps us make sure that the initiatives we introduce are meaningful and genuinely support our team.

Reaccreditation Is Not the Finish Line

Achieving reaccreditation is a fantastic milestone, but it is not the end of the journey. As part of the assessment, we received valuable recommendations and have developed an action plan to help us continue learning, improving and moving forward.

Some of our key priorities include:

• Establishing an Employee Forum to create another opportunity for people to share their views and ideas.
• Closing the loop on surveys and employee feedback more clearly, so people can see how their input leads to action.
• Ensuring consistent follow-through on career progression, development and training.
• Protecting time for learning and development.
• Using our wellbeing strategy to move from simply providing support towards a greater focus on prevention.
• Maintaining momentum around recognition and making it more meaningful across all roles.
• Managing changes to systems carefully and visibly.
• Developing the next layer of leadership and management capability.
• Reducing reliance on key individuals by strengthening succession and cover arrangements.
• Keeping our values and culture visible throughout the next phase of growth.
• Making Vision Arch’s wider social impact more visible.

This encourages us to keep asking questions rather than becoming complacent. What can we do better? How can we support our people more effectively? Are we communicating well? Are we giving people the opportunities they need to develop? And how can we continue to build a workplace where people feel that their contribution matters?
These are ongoing questions, and they are ones we want to keep asking.

A Shared Achievement

Although I had the privilege of leading the reaccreditation process, this achievement belongs to the whole Vision Arch team. An accreditation like this is only possible because people are willing to contribute, share their experiences and engage with the process. I want to thank everyone who took the time to participate and, more broadly, everyone who contributes to our culture every day.

The support, dedication and commitment of our people are what make Vision Arch what it is. For me, the reaccreditation is a reminder of how important it is to keep investing in that.

We are proud to have been recognised as an Investors in People organisation once again, but we are even more excited about what comes next. There is always more we can learn, more we can improve and more we can do to make work better for our people.

Because ultimately, investing in our people means investing in the future of Vision Arch - and that is something we are committed to continuing together.