We are delighted to announce that MIAA has been awarded Investors in People (IIP) Gold accreditation for the third consecutive time, recognising our continued commitment to supporting, developing, and investing in our people.

As one of the UK's largest public sector providers of internal audit, anti-fraud, assurance and consultancy services, MIAA supports more than 60 organisations across the NHS, local authorities, police and fire services, central government bodies, and charities. At the heart of this success is a commitment to creating a workplace where people can thrive, develop and deliver outstanding services for clients and communities.

Achieving Gold accreditation places MIAA among a small number of organisations recognised for excellence in people management and workplace culture. The award reflects not only the strength of MIAA's policies and practices, but also the way colleagues across the organisation bring them to life every day.

Commenting on the achievement, Chris Harrop, Managing Director of MIAA, said:

"We are incredibly proud to have achieved Investors in People Gold accreditation for the third consecutive time. This recognition reflects the passion, commitment, and professionalism of our colleagues, who are the driving force behind everything we achieve."

At MIAA, we firmly believe that investing in our people is fundamental to delivering the highest quality services to our clients. We have worked hard to build a culture founded on trust, respect, compassion, innovation, and excellence, where everyone has the opportunity to develop, contribute and succeed.

It’s particularly pleasing to see our scores improve in the last 3 years, very few public sector and NHS organisations achieve Gold accreditation, and to do so for a third consecutive assessment makes this achievement even more special. It is a testament to the dedication of our people and our ongoing commitment to creating a great place to work and develop.”

MIAA within the top 26%

The assessment also found that when benchmarked against organisations in the public administration and finance sector, MIAA performs within the top 26%.

The IIP report stated:

"At MIAA you have strived to create a high-performing organisation where values, strong leadership, and a culture of continuous improvement are at the core of everything you do. By focusing on your values of Trust, Respect and Compassion and Innovation and Excellence, you foster an environment where both clients and team members can thrive."

Employee feedback also demonstrated the strength of MIAA's workplace culture, with 86% of colleagues agreeing that MIAA is a great place to work. One employee commented:

"I love the job and am passionate about what we do. Through our work we can support our clients to improve their processes and governance so that they can deliver more efficiently and effectively for the NHS or for the communities they serve."

A key factor in MIAA's success is its commitment to learning and development. The Investors in People report highlighted learning as one of the factors that makes MIAA "stand apart from the crowd". The organisation has continued to strengthen its people strategy following its previous assessment in 2023, proactively using feedback to further enhance employee experience, development opportunities, and organisational performance.

Developing the next generation

MIAA is also committed to developing the next generation of public sector professionals. Through long-standing partnerships with Liverpool John Moores University and Manchester Metropolitan University, the organisation operates a successful internship programme that helps nurture future talent while supporting local economies. Many former interns have gone on to build successful careers within MIAA and across the wider NHS.

In addition, MIAA created a graduate entry route into internal audit through the NHS Annex 21 Training Contract, helping to address skills shortages and provide meaningful career opportunities within the public sector.

The Gold accreditation comes during a period of significant recognition for MIAA and its people. Achievements this year include Highly Commended recognition in the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion category at the Northwest HFMA Awards, HFMA Key Contributor Awards for Alex Brady and Sarah Dowbekin, and the Solutions Team's Collaborative Procurement Initiative Award at the National Procurement Awards.

Louise Cobain, Assurance Director at MIAA, added:

"This award reflects the culture we have built together and our commitment to supporting one another to be at our very best. We are proud to create an environment where colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to develop their careers while making a real difference to the organisations and communities we serve."

We believe that the success of our organisation begins and ends with people. By making work better for our colleagues, we can make work better for our clients and partners, helping to build stronger, healthier, and more sustainable public services for the future.