Early Years shortlisted for prestigious award

EARLY Years, a non-profit children’s organisation with facilities across Tyrone, has been shortlisted for a prestigious ‘UK Employer of the Year’ award.

As well as being in contention to take the award, which will put a firm gold stamp on their reputation as one of the most respected employers either side of the Irish Sea, they have been given platinum accreditation by ‘We Invest in People’ – an group which has assessed over 50,000 organisations.

To put this achievement into perspective, ‘platinum’ is the highest level of accreditation possible to attain under the ‘We Invest in People framework’ – only two-percent of organisations worldwide who gain accreditation achieve platinum status and Early Years is one of only eight organisations in the North to hold the sought-after status!

But maybe it shouldn’t come as such a surprise…

Early Years is the largest organisation in the North working with and for children and their familes to promote high quality care and education. They are a registered charity with 249 staff across the North, including in Omagh, Strabane, Castlederg and Dungannon.

Commenting on what the award means for local staff, Yvonne Tracey, manager of Rainbow SureStart in Castlederg, said, “Local staff feel recognised and that their achievements across the area are acknowledged.

“The award reflects the commitment of Early Years to retaining and attracting a highly-talented staff team in SureStart and across all services.”

Congratulating Early Years on the accrediation, Paul Devoy, Investors in People chief executive, said it was a “remarkable acheivement”.

He said, “This places Early Years in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people. Reaching the final shortlist is a testament to the amazing commitment this organisation is making to make work better for their people, and they truly deserve this recognition.”