Staff long service reinforces 21 years of IIP

Wake Smith Solicitors 30 April 2019

Wake Smith celebrates its 21st anniversary of holding the Investors in People (IIP) accreditation this year and is proud to reflect on how many staff have been part of this journey from the very start.

Several staff are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year and will receive long service awards to recognise their achievements.

Notably, long servers alone, at Wake Smith have clocked up a staggering 734 years between them.

The Sheffield law firm currently has 35 staff with more than 15 years’ service and marks milestone years of 15, 25 and 40 years.

Office manager John Liversidge and completions assistant Karen Hayes both celebrate their milestone 40th year at Wake Smith in 2019 along with family department secretary Leanne Fearn and legal assistant Kathryn Taylor who notch up 15 years at the company.

Other staff celebrating long service in 2019 include litigation lawyer Stephen Thompson who is in his 44th year at the company, commercial property solicitor Damien Donnelly and HR assistant Kath Mitchell who are both on 35 years, commercial property secretary Tracey Eggenton on 34 years and IT manager Glenn Simpson on 30 years.

While chief cashier Richard Hayes clocks up 27 years, residential conveyancing director Amanda Cowley hits 23 years; debt recovery manager Louisa Kearns and private client secretary Hazel Calvert are on 22 years, commercial property conveyancer Helen Paul marks 21 years and debt recovery assistant Jane Marsden is on 20 years.

Thirteen other staff across the business are also heading towards spending two decades with the company.

In total the long servers have worked more than 734 years for Wake Smith which in 2019 celebrates 21 years of retaining the coveted IIP (Investors In People) Standard based on its staff management, quality of workplace and career progression systems.

Nick Lambert, chairman at Wake Smith said: “Our investment in staff is rewarded by the high retention rates we have here. Our loyal employees are the backbone of the business and we pride ourselves on providing the best possible environment for them.

“Their dedication and collective efforts play a significant role in achieving Wake Smith’s targets, growth and development of the company and in taking the business to where it is today.

“We recognise the wide spectrum of capabilities and skill sets of our staff and will continue to encourage them to sharpen and broaden their skill sets, through various training and development programmes, reinforced by accreditations like IIP which we have held for an impressive 21 years.”

Office manager John Liversidge, who celebrates 40 years at the company this year after joining as a spritely 16-year-old two days after leaving school in May 1979, said: “The key is understanding other people’s needs, and doing the job with a smile on your face.

“There is a real family feel here. The directors are available to discuss anything professional or personal and you are allowed to grow within your job role. I started as an office junior and have been given more and more responsibility as the years have passed.

“It’s all about the people, that makes Wake Smith. We have a varied range of people here which makes a really good blend. I still really enjoy it. I’ve met plenty of interesting people, been to some great nights out and really enjoyed my work. I know it’s unusual to stay at a company for this long nowadays.”

The IIP Standard assesses an organisation under three performance headings: leading, supporting and improving and is based around the latest workplace trends, essential skills and effective management.

Wake Smith first gained accreditation to the IIP Standard in 1998 after focusing on career progression and support for its employees and proving to assessors it provides a beneficial work environment, delivering excellent management and development of its staff.

Tags

Archive

March 20247February 20242January 20248December 20236November 20232October 20235September 20232August 20234July 20232June 20235May 20238March 20234February 20235January 20233December 20225November 20224October 20224September 20223August 20221June 20221May 20227April 20223March 20223February 20223January 20224December 20214November 20213October 20215September 20216August 20212July 202111June 20218May 20216April 20212March 20218February 20218January 20219December 20208November 202013October 20209September 20208August 20203July 20208June 202016May 202013April 20209March 202016February 20209January 202011December 20199November 20199October 201911September 20195August 20194July 20196May 20198April 20196March 20193February 20195January 20194December 20186November 20185October 20182September 20185August 20184July 20189June 20184May 201810April 20185March 20184February 20184January 20183December 20175November 20178October 20177September 20179August 20175July 20176June 201710May 20176April 20178March 201711February 20176January 201712December 20169November 20167October 201610September 201610August 20166July 20167June 20163May 20162April 20166March 20162February 20164January 20165December 20153November 20155October 20156September 20156August 20157July 20157June 20157May 20156April 20159March 20156February 201510January 20156December 20145November 20144October 20142September 20143May 20144March 20146February 20144January 20142December 20132November 20133September 20134July 20132June 20132May 20133April 20131March 20133February 20133January 20136December 20121November 20123October 20122August 20122July 20128June 20123April 20123March 20121January 20124December 20112November 20111October 20112September 20113August 20113July 20117June 20119May 20117April 20115March 20119February 20118January 20111December 20101October 20102September 20102August 20103July 20106June 20101May 20102April 20106March 20102February 20103January 20102December 20095November 20092October 20092September 20092August 20091July 20095June 20095May 20093April 20093March 20093February 20091January 20092November 20082October 20082September 20081August 20083July 20081January 20082

Featured Articles

Contact us