NORTH West Water has become the first of the country's big privatised water and wastewater companies to achieve the Investor in People standard.

The Warrington-based company, which employs more than 4,000 people, will spend £3 million on staff training in 1998-99.

There will be 36,000 training days across the business -- nine to 10 days for every employee.

The company says the award shows that it takes the correct approach in managing and communicating with employees.

Mr Harry Croft, North West Water's Managing Director, said he was proud and pleased that they had gained Investors in People.

"The achievement is welcome recognition of our commitment to investing in our people and the progress that employees have made in ensuring that individual actions, training and development are clearly linked to our business goals."

An in-house survey among employees is said to show that job satisfaction is now at an all-time high of around 80 per cent.

Line managers are specially trained to coach their employees as a way of helping individuals improve their performance.

A Performance Appraisal scheme involves managers and employees agreeing job-related competencies and objectives.

Other methods of communication include face-to-face team briefings, electronic mail, in-house newspapers and letters mailed direct to employees' homes.

North West Water's four-year apprentice scheme took on 30 apprentices in 1998 -- 23 process, five craft and two laboratory.

To qualify for the scheme candidates must have at least four GCSEs including science, maths and English language.

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