Helping your business thrive is close to our hearts at the Learning and Skills Council North Yorkshire.

Just like you, we want your business to be fit to compete with the best.

So we were thrilled to take the opportunity to sponsor this award, which recognises that the key to that success lies closer to your business than you think - with the people who work for your organisation.

I firmly believe that giving your employees access to new skills improves morale and leads to greater commitment.

If people are skilled and motivated they will work more effectively in a more customer-focused way, your organisation's productivity and performance will undoubtedly improve.

Developing your employees and equipping them with new skills gives both individuals and teams greater commitment to your business and greater flexibility. At the end of the day it brings benefits to the bottom line of your business. This is your chance to tell us how you go about developing your workforce and to receive recognition for your vision. We want this foresight and enterprise to be brought into the limelight. This award is a perfect way to shout about it!

We're looking to reward those businesses locally who really support their staff, who go that extra mile to involve them in developing their business or to bring out their full potential.

Whether it is your staff as a whole, a particular team or one individual, let us know how you bring out the best in your employees. How do you recognise and reward work well done? How do you harness the aspirations of your staff through career development opportunities? Will your people development plans achieve the results you want? How do you ensure that communication across your organisation is as good as it can be?

Size doesn't matter - whether you employ one person or a thousand, let us know how investing in the development of your employees brings you and your staff the results they deserve.

Investing in the development of your employees will always bring a good rate of return but could bring you more than you hoped for!

Updated: 09:49 Tuesday, June 01, 2004