About Sunnyside Rural Trust
Sunnyside Rural Trust is a Hertfordshire-based charity and social enterprise that supports young people and adults with learning disabilities. With a strong focus on wellbeing, learning, and employment, Sunnyside creates inclusive opportunities across horticulture, social care, cafés and retail, PAT testing, and employment support. At its core, the organisation empowers individuals to develop their strengths and progress toward independence.
Since 2012, Sunnyside has been part of the Investors in People (IIP) community and currently holds a Gold We invest in people accreditation. A values-led organisation, Sunnyside’s commitment to people shines through in its transparent culture, wellbeing strategy, and dedication to professional development.
Read on to find out how Sunnyside Rural trust developed a thriving workplace by embedding the IIP framework in their strategy and planning.
- Industry: Social Work & Charity
- Location: Hertfordshire
- Organisation size: 25 - 49
The People-Centred Approach
For Sunnyside, good people management means more than just policies and systems. It’s about combining supportive and professional boundaries with a genuine commitment to the journey of each individual. Fairness, safety, and consistency are central, but so is active listening, celebrating success, and setting meaningful .
On celebrating success, Sunnyside Rural Trust COO, Emma Power sees the community as essential to the recognition of the work the team do,
“We hold a celebration event inviting members of the local community. We showcase our successes of the year and the event is lead by the adults we support who are enabled to tell their stories of success.”
With regards to that commitment to the individual’s journey, there is no “wrong door” to be found at Sunnyside Rural Trust,
“Our services are designed to be accessed at any level and an individual can progress through services. For example, someone may join us through the wellbeing services and then progress to our supported employment services.”
It is this people-centred approach that enabled Sunnyside Rural Trust to work with and embed the principles of the We invest in people framework.
Starting the IIP Journey
When Sunnyside first engaged with Investors in People in 2012, they were a smaller organisation: 60 trainees; two sites; limited social enterprise activities; and diversification of funding.
Since that time, Sunnyside have implemented extensive organisational growth initiatives – renegotiating funding, acquiring their Hemel Hempstead food garden site, rebuilding the Northchurch site, and introducing the café and garden services.
Sunnyside now oversee four sites with over 200 individuals accessing their services, and their income and funding streams are much more diverse and sustainable.
At the time of first introductions, achieving We invest in people Gold seemed like a distant goal – as a small charity with limited resources, developing the right systems and policies was taking time. However, the process of working with Investors in People offered invaluable insights that the leadership of the organisation could act upon from the outset.
“We learned so much about ourselves and our organisation when we started working with Investors in People. It sharpened our focus and strengthened our teamwork. Without IIP, we simply wouldn’t have grown as much or as well as we .” Power tells us.
A Culture of Celebration and Progress
When Sunnyside did achieve We invest in people Gold, it was a milestone moment for the team. Only 5% of social care organisations with between 25-49 employees had reached that level at the time – it was a significant achievement that highlighted their resilience and unity.
More than the recognition of that achievement, the accreditation provided the foundation for further transformation. By following up on recommendations made in their assessment reports including introducing a set wellbeing and training budget for their people, and
developing internal action plans from a process of self-assessment against the IIP framework, Sunnyside were able to embed the core principles of We invest in people into their culture, strengthening their reputation, winning competitive tenders, and attracting skilled, passionate along the way.
From Strategy to Action
The Trust’s journey with IIP has directly shaped its organisational development. As mentioned, Sunnyside set dedicated budgets for both training and wellbeing. These alongside clear strategies to support continuous professional development, team health, and mental is reaping rewards for their team and the work they do. For example, six former trainees are now employed by Sunnyside, four as gardeners, one as a café worker, and one in the publicity and marketing team who leads on the trainee voice.
As a result, Sunnyside can proudly point to statistics such as a 49% increase in volunteer numbers since 2023 and an oversubscription in corporate volunteer engagement, as being direct outcomes of the work undertaken with support from Investors in People.
The impact doesn’t stop there as Power tells us,
“Our general organisational reputation has translated into sustainable relationships with local councils – we are preferred provider for volunteer placements, and the contractor of choice for creating and delivering community gardens.”
These statements align when looking at their annual growth – 30% year-on-year over five years – supported by consistent, fair processes and a deep investment in their .
Practitioner Insights
“I have worked with Sunnyside as its IIP Practitioner for the past 8 years. During that time the organisation has grown significantly. In addition to the three original sites, it now also operates a plant nursery and offers additional services supporting people with employment and wellbeing. This has resulted in Sunnyside growing its employed team from 24 people to nearly 60, including some part-time employees, in addition to the volunteers. This has also required changes to the management structure including the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer.
Throughout this period of growth and change Sunnyside has used the principles that underpin the IIP Standard to ensure that it has taken its people with it on the journey. As a consequence, Sunnyside has been able to continue to meet the criteria for the Gold level of accreditation. A most impressive achievement.”
Nick Smith, IIP Practitioner
Conclusion
In a sector where demonstrating commitment to staff can make or break a bid, IIP accreditation gave Sunnyside a clear edge. It helped the organisation stand out to commissioners and reinforced their reputation as a quality-driven, values-led employer.
Sunnyside Rural Trust’s journey with Investors in People is a powerful example of how a strong commitment to people can fuel sustainable growth, deepen impact, and build a thriving workplace culture. From modest beginnings as a small charity with limited resources, to becoming a Gold-accredited organisation growing by 30% annually, Sunnyside shows what’s possible when values, vision, and people development align.
By embedding the IIP framework into everything from recruitment and training to wellbeing and strategic planning, Sunnyside has created a place where both employees and trainees can truly shine. Their story is a testament to the difference that investing in people can make—not only for individuals, but for the communities and causes they serve.
Their advice to others? For those new to the concept, Sunnyside describes Investors in People as “a way to improve your organisation by demonstrating you invest in your people.”
As Power puts it, “It provides a benchmark of quality that reassures current and future employees and signals to commissioners, investors and partners that people are our priority.”
