Leisure operators BPL received some fantastic business news recently after being awarded the prestigious 'Investors in People' (IIP) Gold Award.

Receiving the IIP Gold award is down to the high standard of employees that BPL has within the business.

IIP Gold status is a level of accreditation that only the top 2% of Investors in People achieve.

The Gold award is recognised as an achievement of world-class best practice. It is regarded as being the mark of a truly cutting-edge organisation operating at the very highest levels of people management practice, using the Investors in People framework to drive the organisation forward.

Tim Wilson BPL CEO said "This is a proud moment for BPL and an achievement I am delighted with. It is a true testament to the way the BPL organisation is strategically operated and also with the way in which the staff continually commit to the BPL vision.

"The number of customers BPL attracts is increasing and we continue to showcase a high standard for our customers. A big thank you to all the staff, at all levels, for their commitment and their humbling comments made to the assessor during the assessment."

Photograph: (L-R) Lewis Smart (Leisure Supervisor), Ronnie Erskine (HR Manager), Amanda Seymour (Lifestyle Advisor), Richard Jones (Trustee, Acting Trading Chair), Tim Wilson (BPL Chief Executive), Peter Taylor (IIP Assessor), Glenn Tolan (Head of Operations), Danni Millington (Catering & Events Supervisor) and Richard Francis (BPL Leisure Attendant)