Muriel Richardson was reluctant to sign up for any kind of scheme. As the general manager of the Rosedon Hotel, she was already overworked, and adding another thing to her list of "to dos'' was not her idea of good management.

So it was with a certain reluctance that she signed up to the pilot scheme of Investors in People.

Three years on she is the initiative's biggest fan. She says it has made the hotel staff more productive, brought in team spirit, boosted morale and increased the bottom line.

"It is good business to invest in the people that work for you,'' she said.

"Working with Investors in People was a godsend.'' She said it forced her to look at the whole operation from top to bottom and not just at managerial level, where most training energies are normally focused.

"I had to look at the gardener, and say, what can I do to train him, can he do a better job? I phoned up some nurseries and found out some courses, and that was that. We have a painter, and you have to ask, how do you train a painter? But we sent him on a course and it was great.

"Most have embraced it. I learned how to do this and to do that. People have more skills and feel appreciated so they are more motivated. And there is no doubt it is going to help with the bottom line.

"Rosedon was already a successful business, but there is no doubt that Investors in People has helped us to grow.'' She said that as much of the hotel's business depends on repeat business, the attitude of the staff is fundamental to them doing well.

"The better care we take of our customers, the more likely they are to come back, or to recommend us to their friends,'' she said.

"From a hospitality point of view we have always been interested in the dollar/spend ratio. Investors in People has helped us close the gap and helps people when they leave feel that that was money well spent.'' And she believes that the philosophy behind Investors in People can help all Bermuda industries prosper, not just hospitality.

She added: "If the local workforce has been developed, then more international companies will want to come and invest here.''