There is tremendous kudos in London East attached to the IIP Awards. And rightly so. The standard is high and the competition fierce. The winners can be justly proud of their achievements.

Entries are open to any organisation that has achieved the Investors in People Standard within five boroughs east of London - an area that stretches from the City to the borders of Essex and Hertfordshire.

The awards are for outstanding performance in six categories of achievement.

Of the six category awards contested this year, three went to organisations supported by Ekos director, Glyn Debnam (working in association with Triangle South and London East TEC):

• Outstanding Practice
  J.Durrance & Co Limited
• Small Business Excellence
  3DD Limited
• Key Champion
  Breda Bower, Clinical Director, Island Health

3DD Limited was also runner up in the Sprint Award for outstanding progress.

The awards dinner was held on November 5^th in London's Docklands. The gala event was hosted by Susan Fey OBE, Chief Executive of London East TEC and the awards presented by Tony Robinson of Blackadder fame.

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Breda Bower missed the event because of other commitments - holidaying in Florida! But Jimmy Durrance, MD of J.Durrance & Co Limited and Kevin Mullane, director of 3DD were there to collect their awards.

'Our success has been very much a team effort,' says Jimmy Durrance. 'And our consultant has been very much a part of the team.

'It's big thanks to Glyn,' says Jimmy, 'that we've been able to achieve what we have achieved.'

Increased profitability to over 65%. Staff turnover reduced to zero. 'Everyone in the company is now much more focused and committed,' says Jimmy. 'Morale is at an all time high'

In March 1999, facing possibly the stiffest competition of any category, J.Durrance & Co Limited won LETEC's coveted Blue Ribbon Award for Customer Care. 'This is down to my staff,' said Jimmy Durrance. 'Without them, none of this would have been possible. And we couldn't have done any of it without IIP and all Glyn's help.'

'The fact that we achieved Investors in so short a time,' says Kevin Mullane, 'is down firstly to the will and enthusiasm within the company, but primarily to the quality and no-nonsense professionalism of our consultant.

'Working with Glyn,' says Kevin, 'provided us with the focus and impetus to drive the company forward. But, more importantly, he has given us the tools and techniques we needed to be more effective in our business, together with the confidence to apply them successfully. There have been real bottom line benefits.'

Significant increase in turnover; record profits; improved communication systems; a rise in company-wide productivity of 24%; 25% more fully employed staff; a 30% increase in staff wages.

The efforts of 3DD in achieving Investors in People were also recognised by the judges for LETEC's Blue Ribbon Awards in March. The company was nominated for the Investors in People Award and won the Award for Company Turnaround.