WORCESTERSHIRE express delivery service TNT has been acclaimed a one-in-a-thousand and joined an elite band of the UK's business champions.

MP John Denham, the Secretary of State for the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills, announced that TNT is one of just 36 companies in the UK to be awarded the title of Investor in People Champion. The champions programme recognises employers who have boosted the performance of their businesses through the way they manage and develop their employees.

TNT, based at Hartlebury Trading Estate, Hartlebury, was selected for champion status from 36,000 organisations which are all accredited to Investors in People (IiP).

The company embraced the IiP philosophy and, as a result, realised the potential of its workforce and improved its performance.

TNT was one of the first businesses to have champion status in 2004, when it was one of the first of 16 organisations to achieve the accreditation.

As one of the champions, TNT will work with IiP to share its expertise with other employers to promote best practice in all areas of people development.

Simon Jones, acting chief executive of Investors in People, said: "I would like to congratulate TNT on being selected yet again as one of the UK's business champions and thank them for the valuable contribution they have already made.

"I look forward to working with them in promoting business improvement through people."

The honour follows on from past TNT success in relation to the welfare of the company's employees. The company was the first in the world to gain global IiP accreditation back in 1994 - a position it has maintained for the past 10 years - and the first to win IiP laurels in the express delivery sector.

Adrian Avery, Worcester depot general manager, said: "We are honoured to have been chosen as one of the first Investors in People Champions, as I believe this accolade recognises our commitment to employee development, and also the success this has helped us achieve."