A service provided by Gloucestershire County Council which helps people to live independently in their community has been awarded the Investors in People Standard for a tenth year.

GIS Healthcare which has sites in Hempsted in Gloucester and Cinderford in the Forest of Dean, delivers, collects, refurbishes and services a wide range of medical equipment such as wheelchairs to make the lives of people with disabilities more comfortable, improve their mobility and enable them to be more active.

More than half of the staff at GIS Healthcare have a disability and are supported by the Work Choice Programme. The business also allows people to buy equipment and is dedicated to the training and employing people with disabilities.

The Investors in People award is the UK’s leading accreditation for business improvement through people management and offers resources for businesses to innovate and improve.

Cllr Kathy Williams cabinet member for responsible for long term care said: “It is a fantastic achievement for GIS Healthcare to be awarded the Investors in People Standard for a tenth year.

“It shows the ongoing commitment and dedication of their hard working and talented staff to improve the lives of local people who suffer from disabilities. Long may it continue.”

Nicola Fellows, Supported Employment Development Manager at GIS Healthcare said: “We are extremely proud to have been presented with the award.

“Development and progression of our employees is at the heart of our business and we continuously strive to challenge our employees to progress to their full potential within GIS Healthcare and support them moving into unsupported employment.”

Paul Devoy, Head of Investors in People, said: “Working with Investors in People inspires and enables leaders, managers and employees at all levels to build their skills, improve their performance and achieve their potential. We’d like to congratulate GIS Healthcare.”

For more information about Investors in People please visit www.investorsinpeople.co.uk