Why did you enter the Investors in People 2025 Awards?
St Martin of Tours Housing Association: From Crisis to Excellence with Investors in People
In 2020 and 2021, St Martin of Tours Housing Association went through one of the most challenging periods in its history. We recorded a £1.2 million loss against a turnover of £5 million, were placed under regulatory supervision, and staff turnover reached 65 percent. It was a difficult period that forced us to take a hard look at ourselves and start again with a renewed sense of purpose.
With a new Board members and leadership team and a clear plan, we set out to rebuild not just our finances and services, but the culture of the organisation. Our focus became simple: to achieve excellence in everything we do, for the people we support, for our staff, and for our partners.
As part of this drive, we appointed a Transformation Team to lead our this excellence through a variety of ways. Their role has been to implement systems and processes designed to improve staff experience, streamline working practices, and ensure that excellence is embedded in every part of the organisation. This has helped staff feel supported, valued, and clear about expectations, which in turn has directly improved performance and morale.
That focus on excellence is what led us to Investors in People. What began as a health check quickly became a key part of our improvement journey. The IIP framework helped us align our goals, strengthen leadership, and make sure everyone understood how important they are to the success of the organisation. Achieving the Silver Standard at our first attempt was a proud moment and confirmed that the progress we had made was real and sustainable.
What has it meant to you, your team, and your organisation to be shortlisted for an Investors in People 2025 Award?
Being shortlisted for an Investors in People 2025 Award means a great deal to everyone at St Martin of Tours. It is recognition of the dedication, compassion and teamwork that our staff demonstrate every day in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community. For our team, it affirms that the care, respect and commitment we show to the people we support are reflected in how we work together. For our organisation, it is a proud moment that celebrates our shared values, continuous improvement and belief that investing in our people creates the foundation for excellent care and positive outcomes.
What would it mean to your organisation to win an Investors in People 2025 Award?
Winning an Investors in People 2025 Award would be an incredible honour for St Martin of Tours. It would represent national recognition of the passion, dedication and commitment that our staff demonstrate every day in supporting adults with complex mental health needs.
For our organisation, winning would affirm that our culture of care extends not only to the people we support but also to our employees. We believe that by investing in our people, listening to their voices and empowering them to grow, we create the conditions for genuine, lasting impact in our services and in the lives of those we care for.
An award from Investors in People would validate the progress we have made in building a learning organisation where everyone feels valued, trusted and part of something meaningful. It would motivate us to continue improving, to strengthen our leadership and wellbeing initiatives, and to keep striving for excellence across all areas of our work.
Above all, it would be a proud moment for every member of our team — a celebration of their hard work, resilience and compassion. Winning would remind us that when we put people first, both as colleagues and as service users, we truly live our values and make a difference every day.
How important is it for your organisation to be a part of the Investors in People community and engage in awards and events like this one?
Being part of the Investors in People community is very important to St Martin of Tours. It connects us with organisations that share our commitment to developing people, promoting wellbeing and creating positive, supportive workplaces. The Investors in People framework helps us to reflect on our practices, learn from others and continue to improve how we support and value our staff.
Engaging in awards and events like this one gives us the opportunity to celebrate our progress, recognise the hard work of our teams and gain inspiration from other organisations that are also striving for excellence. It encourages collaboration, innovation and the sharing of good practice across sectors.
For us, being part of this community is not just about recognition. It is about belonging to a network that champions people-focused leadership, continuous learning and genuine care. These values are at the heart of everything we do at St Martin of Tours, and our involvement with Investors in People helps us strengthen them and ensure that they continue to shape our culture and our future.