Major industry award for Sunderland firm Identity Consult after work on The Beam, the Beacon and the Hope Street Xchange

Construction consultancy Identity Consult, formed in 2006, has been involved in delivering iconic new Wearside buildings such The Beam, the Beacon and the Hope Street Xchange.

But on this occasion, it is the quality of staff-building, rather than the buildings themselves, that have been applauded with the prestigious Investors In People award.

The award recognises the company’s commitment to the Living Wage Foundation, which voluntarily commits Identity Consult to pay what is regarded as a genuine living wage as opposed to the Government’s statutory minimum wage.

The organisation, based at Quay West Business Village in Southwick is thriving. In July this year it announced it was adding planning to an already extensive list of services.

The firm’s managing director, Mark Doherty, said: “We have won many awards over the last decade-and-a-half for the projects we’ve worked on and we are proud of all of them.

“But there’s something a bit special about being recognised for the positive atmosphere and support generated in the workplace.

“Identity Consult launched 16 years ago with the goal of becoming the North’s number one construction and development consultancy and we’re pleased with how we are achieving that goal.

"But a huge part of that successful drive is the quality and happiness of those who work here.

“The business health of any organisation begins and ends with the people who comprise it and from the start, we’ve wanted to look after them and make sure they’re happy and satisfied in their jobs.”

Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People, said: “We’d like to congratulate Identity Consult because being accredited with ‘We Invest’ is a remarkable effort for any organisation, and places Identity Consult in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people.

“It means principles and practices around supporting people are in place and everyone understands how to use them to make work better.

“If we make work better for everyone, we make work better for every organisation. And if we do that, we make society stronger, healthier and happier.”