A COMPANY is celebrating winning the Investor in People award in only six weeks.

Information technology and business consultants Waterstons easily beat the average time for clinching IIP status, 74 weeks.

The Durham firm applied for the award, which recognises organisations committed to staff development, through Business Link County Durham.

Company director Mike Waterston said the firm had always attached great importance to staff development.

He said: "When we looked at the criteria for the award we did think our whole philosophy matched that of Investors in People very closely.

"Our turnover of staff is very low - less than two per cent -which suggests that people like working here.

"But we certainly never expected to gain the award so speedily. It really endorses Watersons' whole approach."

Business Link County Durham managing director Jayne Graham said: "It's certainly very unusual for a company to gain the award in just six weeks from our first meeting with them."