Serocor’s Learning and Development Manager, Derek Goff has received an IRP Honorary Fellowship from the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC).
The fellowship is the highest accolade awarded by the Institute of Recruitment Professionals (IRP). So prestigious is this award, that only 24 others have thus far received it. The Fellowship recognises ‘people who have made a particular contribution to the recruitment profession’.
The honour tops off a great year for Derek, which saw him celebrate a milestone birthday. “To be awarded the Honorary Fellowship after 20 years in the industry and at the end of my 50th year is a complete joy,” he says.
A winning attitude
Derek has enjoyed a solid career in L&D. Recently celebrating his 11th anniversary with Serocor, prior to which he spent nine years in recruitment, his commitment is clear. Among his other achievements, Derek cites Serocor’s IRP People Development in Business award (2009).
“This was the first award we had won specifically for training and development,” Derek explains. “We went on to win that award twice more, as well as Best Company to Work For and Advocate Company of the Year – twice.”
It hasn’t always been easy. He recalls sighing with relief, completing the chairmanship of the Trailblazer Employer Panel after 48 months. “This was one of the hardest things I had to master,” he says. “I had no previous experience working with such senior, talented, qualified colleagues on the panel. And with government goal posts constantly on the move!”
And that wasn’t the only IRP success of the night…
It was in no small part due to Derek that the Serocor Group itself was a winner too at the 2018 IRP Awards. Going ‘above and beyond’ with impressive mentoring, volunteering and apprenticeship initiatives, Serocor won Advocate Company of the Year (again).
Reflecting on the double-win, Derek said: “I love the environment we work in. I feel privileged to have a small impact on how people develop their careers.
Naturally, the entire Group is thrilled about both results, but especially so for Derek. He is an asset to the industry, our group and we’re proud to be colleagues of his.
To discover more about the awards or Serocor Group’s association with the REC/ IRP, please get in touch.
Derek Goff
Learning & Development Manager
