As training of assessors for the North of England Excellence Awards gets underway, a search through the archives has highlighted the key role they play. During the 18 years of awards, no fewer than 785 assessors have been involved.

The statistics were uncovered by our training specialist Pete Macartney. In seven years of assessor training, he has turned out over 200 successful candidates - 206 to be exact after the latest class of seven. He says: "Becoming an awards assessor makes people much sharper at identifying improvement opportunities, it enhances their leadership and communication skills and gives them a better understanding of the way organisations work."

For further information about becoming an assessor see northofenglandexcellence.co.uk/assessor.asp