Workers for a Bradford gas supplier are celebrating gaining a pioneering Investors in People award.

The local depot of Energas has successfully piloted a scheme to become the first of the company's network of nine sites to gain the prestigious status.

Supervisor Trevor Orridge started the ball rolling when he got in contact with Bradford & District Train-ing & Enterprise Council (TEC) last year.

And even though the firm's head office is in Hull, Bradford was chosen for the pilot.

Investors in People (IiP) adviser with the TEC, Cheryl Binyon, applauded Mr Orridge's tenacity and the company as a whole for its commitment.

She said: "Energas has got the award in a relatively short space of time."

Energas, which provides gas products to industrial clients, employs around 35 people at its Bradford depot.

It recently enjoyed an 18 per cent upturn in sales and sees its move toward IiP status as crucial in lifting its market position.

The TEC recognition panel noted that since the introduction of the IiP programme:

l Managers were actively demonstrating their commitment to training and development

l Communication of aims and objectives across the company was excellent

l Training was linked to the firm's business plan very effectively

l Team meetings and new start inductions were friendly, open and constructive.

Energas's managing director, Mike Robinson, said: "Investors in People has moved things forward at Bradford beyond our expectations."