Just four months after capturing the rarely-awarded Platinum Investors in People status, the Association has been shortlisted for Employer of the Year.

The news came as a welcome surprise and Thenue will face eight other Platinum-awarded challengers for the title.

The Association had previously been awarded Gold status but made the leap to Platinum in the summer – an accreditation held by just 3% of IIP-accredited organisations.

Thenue hailed the development and said it reflected the hard work and commitment of staff and its board of management during a period dominated by the health emergency which has tested housing professionals like never before.

Three Employers of the Year will be awarded – depending on the size of the workforce. Thenue is competing in the category for 50 to 249 employees.

Charles Turner, chief executive of Thenue, said: “This is brilliant news - coming so soon after the Association was awarded Platinum Status in May.

“To make the shortlist for the Investors in People Awards 2021 is the icing on the cake and demonstrates recognition for the incredible job our staff and board of management have done over the many difficult months of the pandemic.”

Many housing associations have embraced the concept of Investors In People in keeping with the continuous improvement of staff so evident within the housing association movement.

There are four levels to Investors in People status – Standard, Silver, Gold and Platinum. But to achieve the Platinum standard, organisations must demonstrate ‘high performance’ in virtually all of the assessment indicators.

Thenue’s Investors in People journey began when it was first accredited in 2006.

The Investors in People Awards 2021 will be held digitally on November 23.