Retailer Statoil Detaljhandel Norge has been awarded a prize for good results in human resources and organisational development by the Human Resources Norway association today, 26 May.
According to the jury for the 2004 Competence Prize, the company has defied the myth that expertise is primarily important for businesses with a highly-educated workforce.
“It has made a commitment to development of expertise in the chain, rather than a one-sided focus on traditional marketing,” the jurors add.
“This is very gratifying, and we’re naturally extremely proud,” says human resources vice president Olav Haraldseid in Statoil Detaljhandel.
“The award represents an excellent external acknowledgement that our commitment to human resources and organisation has been noted.”
He says that the company thinks along innovative lines, and that one goal has been to give the human resources function a commercial orientation.
The earlier anonymous, bureaucratic department focused mainly on pay, job descriptions and personnel administration has become a practical contributor to earnings and cost savings.
“Our focus has been on recruiting, developing and retaining able employees, and improving the organisation’s efficiency,” Mr Haraldseid observes.
“This is an important factor in our work as a support function for the company’s 450 service stations in Norway.”
Human Resources Norway is a voluntary organisation for people involved with and interested in HR administration, organisation, recruitment, and management and expertise development.
Its Competence Prize is Norway’s leading award in this field and aims to stimulate and enhance awareness of the development of human resources in working and social life.
Former winners are Norske Skog Union in 2003, Snøhetta Arkitektkontor 2002, Gjensidige Nor Sparebank 2001, Ekornes 2000, Nidar 1999, Leiv Vidar 1998 and the home services department in Alta 1997.