Being reaccredited as a Platinum employer in 2025 has been a highlight of Paragon’s 40th year and one of which we are incredibly proud.
We entered the Investors in People 2025 Awards to build on this success. Our vision is to be an organisation of which our employees are proud and winning this award would be the ultimate recognition to support this ambition. It wouldn’t be just a badge of honour, it would reflect the work we’ve done to build a resilient, people-first culture in uncertain times.
We are passionate about being the best for our people and supporting them as they achieve their goals, and we’d love to be recognised amongst the elite at these prestigious awards. The feedback we received during our reaccreditation was exceptional, highlighting the strength of our leadership, our inclusive workplace, the depth of our employee engagement and the authenticity of our values.
It’s been very exciting! We were thrilled when we received the news. Financial services is often under-recognised for its people practices, but it’s always been something we strongly believe in, so it’s validating to be acknowledged externally for the work we do behind the scenes to create a thriving, inclusive and values-led workplace. It’s easy to focus on numbers and performance in banking, but this recognition shines a spotlight on something deeper: our culture, our people and the way we lead and work together.
For the team, it’s been a moment of pride. We’ve worked hard to embed the principles of Investors in People into everything we do – from leadership development and wellbeing initiatives to career progression and employee voice. To see that effort recognised at a national level has been energising. It’s sparked conversations, celebrations and a renewed sense of purpose. We’ve never been shy about our commitment to our people, but this shortlisting gave us the perfect excuse to shout about it – to share our story more widely and inspire others in our industry to raise the bar.
For the organisation as a whole, it tells us we’re on the right path and gives us an opportunity to reflect on how far we’ve come and how much more we want to achieve. It’s reminded us that excellence isn’t static – it’s something we keep building, together.
Winning an Investors in People 2025 Award would be a huge deal for us! It would be the ultimate recognition of the passion we’ve given to building a workplace where people truly thrive. We’ve worked relentlessly to embed a culture that values every individual, champions growth and leads with purpose – and to have that acknowledged at this level would be incredible.
It would also be a moment of immense pride for our colleagues and everyone that has helped shape Paragon, and a celebration of our journey. 2025 marks not only our 40th anniversary, but also the year our Chief Executive Nigel Terrington celebrates 30 years in his role. He has championed Investors in People from the start, with our initial accreditation in 1997 shortly after he was appointed, and what better way to celebrate 30 years of commitment to both our people and Investors in People.
Importantly it would also be a powerful message to the wider industry that banking can be people-first, progressive and values-led.
This award would be more than a trophy – it would be a symbol of who we are and what we stand for.
Being part of the Investors in People community is a big part of who we are. Our journey with Investors in People spans nearly three decades, since 1997 when we were first accredited, and throughout that time, we’ve embraced the framework not only as a benchmark for excellence but as a catalyst for continuous improvement, cultural evolution and people-first leadership. Our longstanding accreditation and growth through the standard to Gold, and then Platinum is a testament to our unwavering commitment to investing in our people, and it reflects the values that shape our organisation every day.
Engaging in awards and events like the Investors in People Awards is a natural extension of that commitment. These moments allow us to celebrate progress, share insights, and learn from others who are equally passionate about building thriving workplaces. We don’t just attend Investors in People events, we show up to contribute, share and learn. Over the years, Paragon colleagues have proudly taken part as speakers at West Midlands events, sharing our experiences and lessons learned. We’ve coached other organisations on their own accreditation journeys, offering guidance and encouragement to help them unlock their potential. It’s a privilege to give back to a community that has given us so much.
This marks our third time being shortlisted for the Investors in People Awards, and we’re hopeful that this year will be our year. But win or not, the process itself is invaluable. It pushes us to reflect, to stretch and to reaffirm our purpose. It reminds us that excellence is a mindset, and being part of a community that celebrates that mindset is both inspiring and energising.
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