Accura Engineering has won Investors in People 2025 Best Newcomer, a national recognition of our transformation into a business where people feel supported, valued, and equipped to grow.
The award acknowledges the depth of cultural change delivered across the organisation and our commitment to building a workplace where high performance and high trust go hand in hand.
This is more than an award. It’s confirmation that our work to build a sustainable, people-first culture is delivering real results for our employees, our customers, and the future of Midlands manufacturing.
What Are the Investors in People Awards?
The Investors in People Awards celebrate organisations that put people at the heart of how they operate. Backed by the internationally recognised Investors in People (IIP) framework, the awards benchmark leadership, development, engagement, and organisational culture across sectors.
The Best Newcomer category recognises businesses that have recently joined the IIP community and demonstrated exceptional progress in embedding people-first practices.
For Accura Engineering, this recognition highlights how deeply we have integrated IIP into our leadership approach, our communication, our development pathways, and our decision-making.
We didn’t pursue accreditation for the badge; we pursued it to build a culture worth sustaining.
Why We Pursued Investors in People
Three years ago, we had the foundations of a strong business: skilled people, long-term customer relationships, and deep manufacturing capability. We recognised that clearer roles, stronger progression paths, and more visible leadership were key to unlocking our full potential.
We wanted a culture where:
- People understood what was expected of them
- Leaders supported growth rather than directing from authority
- Every employee could see a future for themselves at Accura
The IIP framework gave us a structure to make this real with a new way of leading, supporting, and developing people.
“We wanted a framework that challenged how we thought, how we led, and how we grew. IIP gave us the language and accountability to change in the right way.”
— Rebecca Smith, HR Manager
What Drove Our Success
Leadership Built on Clarity and Accountability
We introduced a Team Leader Development Programme focused on:
- Coaching and communication
- Day-to-day leadership behaviours
- Confidence in decision-making
This created leaders who not only manage output but support, guide, and enable progress.
Career Pathways and Internal Progression
We redesigned our appraisal framework to align personal goals with company strategy.
As a result:
- Internal progression rose to 26%, with employees stepping confidently into leadership roles
- Appraisal completion reached 100%, ensuring every employee is aligned and supported
- New training pathways were introduced for machining, maintenance, metrology, and quality
Employee Voice Embedded in Decision-Making
We launched:
- A joint communications committee to influence key policies
- Cross-functional strategy groups
- Transparent forums for feedback and improvement
This shift created a culture where people feel heard — and see their input drive change.
“We’ve moved from a place where people waited to be told, to a place where they ask ‘what’s next?’ — and know how to get there.”
— Rebecca Smith, HR Manager
A People-first Culture That Drives Performance
Cultural change has translated into measurable operational impact.
In 2023, Accura opened a new operational site through employee-led planning. Teams shaped layouts, workflows, and commissioning, demonstrating ownership and confidence built from IIP-led development.
We also recorded:
- Significant performance improvements
- Growth in aerospace and defence customer programmes
- National manufacturing award recognition
People-first didn’t slow us down, it accelerated us.
“This past year has shown what happens when you back your people and trust them to lead. The results are cultural, commercial, and operational.”
— Sophie Hallett-Jones, Managing Director
What This Means for Our Customers
For customers in aerospace, defence, energy and advanced manufacturing, people culture is more than internal language; it directly impacts:
- Reliability
- Consistency
- Quality of output
- Confidence in delivery
A stable, skilled, supported team delivers better and stays longer. That continuity matters in long-term, complex manufacturing programmes.
A people-first organisation creates:
- Lower turnover and retained expertise
- Stronger collaboration and problem-solving
- Greater care and precision in every part produced
Simply put we are better equipped to deliver, because our people are empowered to do their best work.
Looking Ahead: Sustaining Our Momentum
Our Investors in People journey is ongoing. Over the next three years, we will:
- Expand leadership development across all management levels
- Embed quarterly development conversations as standard practice
- Grow early careers pathways, including apprenticeships and graduate roles
- Strengthen our approach to wellbeing, recognition, and inclusion
We are also targeting £20M turnover by 2027, supported by automation, skills development, and a resilient culture built to adapt and evolve.
“Sustainable success isn’t about staying still. It’s about staying intentional and we’re building a business that lasts.”
— Craig Wright, Chairman & CEO
Join A People-first Engineering Business
Whether you’re looking for a long-term manufacturing partner or a place to build your career: Accura Engineering is growing with purpose.
