DPP has been awarded the Commitment to Employee and Training Development at the G4C North East Awards.
In confirming DPP’s success, the judging panel highlighted the long-standing dedication to professional growth, inclusivity, and structured career progression. For over 30 years, DPP have been committed to employee development, and it’s that commitment that has created a pathway for 50% of our current Directors to progress from junior / entry positions to leadership roles. This reflects the commitment and investment in nurturing talent and building long-term careers.
Central to the approach is a structured professional development programme that begins on day one. All Assistant Planners and Planners are allocated a senior mentor to help nurture their technical and professional skills within the business, and importantly, guide them through the Royal Town Planning Institute’s Assessment of Professional Competence process, to achieve chartered status. The team has a high retention rate and part of this is the commitment to developing skills as planners, and more widely as people through the mentoring programme. This commitment not only improves individual careers but promotes personal growth as people.
The company’s development culture extends beyond the workplace, championing wellbeing and social initiatives too. Regular appraisals, client feedback, and performance reviews reinforce the merit-based culture, while broader wellbeing and contributions to local charities and community, support both staff resilience and community benefit.
Last year, DPP established a set of People Values to complement and align with the Company’s mission, vision, and business objectives. The values were influenced and curated by both the business and the people within it and everyone is expected to act as a role model, championing these values, to ensure that they are lived out in everything that we do. Our People Values are based around: Balance; Integrity; Professionalism, Dependability; Respect; and Teamwork.
This award holds particular weight as our strategic plan to drive performance through professional development has contributed to the company successfully transitioning into a larger, yet agile company with professionalism and people at its heart.
Present at the awards on 2nd May was Director Helen Marks, alongside Hannah Thompson, Emily Rickard and Eleanor Robinson, who stepped forward to receive the award.
