Posted on 5 January 2011
Investors in People
The recent achievement of the coveted Investors in People award has enabled the University of Wales Gregynog Hall to introduce exciting new business initiatives.
Karen Armstrong, Director of Gregynog Hall at Tregynon, near Newtown, says achievement of the IIP Leadership and Management Model, on her second anniversary in post, reflects a commitment to constantly improve service quality and business performance.
The model provides a framework of good working practices to follow, which enables businesses to plan, develop and benefit from effective internal leadership and management.
“There has been a rapid pace of change at Gregynog Hall over the past two years and the Leadership and Management Model has helped the dynamic management team to progress a number of exciting initiatives,” said Karen.
“I was keen to establish the core values of Gregynog Hall from the moment I arrived and our skilled management team and staff are united in wanting to achieve the enterprising plans that we have for the estate.
“Development of tourism and our weddings business, staging more events, opening the Grade I Listed gardens to the general public and launching our courtyard café have all been made more achievable through leadership and management.
“The model is an example of exemplary HR management which, hopefully, is just one facet of running the wider estate.”
Pam Tanner, a Welsh Assembly Government human resources development advisor, supported Gregynog Hall to achieve the best practice award. She said she was impressed by Karen's dedication to establishing real change in the business and the way she had used the model to achieve her goal.
Gregynog Hall, which is run by the University of Wales, has been recognised as an Investor in People since 2003 and has also achieved the Hospitality Assured service industry standard every year since 2000.
Gregynog Hall estate comprises the eye-catching black and white mansion, picturesque gardens, a woodland Site of Special Scientific Interest, 11 tenant farms and a reservoir. Fifty staff are employed on the estate, which was bequeathed by Margaret Davies as a deed of gift to the University of Wales half a century ago.
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Notes to Editors:
Gregynog is part of the University of Wales www.gregynog.wales.ac.uk
Sisters Margaret and Gwendoline Davies were granddaughters of Victorian tycoon David Davies of Llandinam, who made his fortune from contracting, coal-owning, railways and the docks at Barry. In his legacy, Davies left Gwendoline and Margaret £500,000 each, which enabled them to become passionate collectors of art from around 1908 onwards.
By 1924, they had amassed the largest collection of French Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works in Britain. Between 1951 and 1963, the sisters bequeathed 260 works to the National Museums and Galleries of Wales, completely transforming its art collection with works such as Renoir's Blue Lady, Monet's Rouen Cathedral and Rodin's The Kiss.
At Gregynog Hall they created a centre for the arts in Wales and founded the prestigious Gregynog Music Festival, which still takes place every June and attracts stars of international repute.
The sisters also established The Gregynog Press (Gwasg Gregynog), producing limited edition books of rare beauty with fine hand-coloured illustrations, superb typography and engraving all beautifully bound by hand. The press continues to produce high quality work today.
For more information please contact either Karen Armstrong, Director Gregynog Hall, on 01686 650224 or for Press and Media information Tom Barrett, Communications Officer, University of Wales: t.barrett@wales.ac.uk