Black Country vending operator Coinadrink Limited has retained the prestigious Investors in People Gold accreditation, emphasising how they “make work better” for their employees. 

In a double celebration, they have also recently retained the ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certifications for quality, environmental management, and occupational health and safety, respectively. 

Investors in People has assessed over 50,000 companies since 1991, making work better for over 11 million people. 

Coinadrink has placed their 73 staff at the heart of operations for far longer than Investors in People has been operating—since 1962, to be precise. 

Coinadrink’s late founder, Roger Williams, instilled a vibrant company culture at the business. He envisioned a workplace that was not just for employment, but a nurturing environment where employees could enjoy their work and thrive. 

The company operates like a big family, with an impressive average length of service of nearly 13 years. 

They believe in small gestures to enhance workplace satisfaction. Early Friday finishes, free coffee-shop-style beverages, heavily subsidised food and snacks, and the choice of a turkey or high street voucher at Christmas are well received. 

However, the commitment to staff goes far beyond these perks. 

Roger was an advocate for learning and career development, and our nationally approved apprenticeship program has been a cornerstone for decades. 

This program is accessible to all employees, debunking the myth that apprenticeships are solely for school leavers, and Coinadrink has seen numerous success stories emerge from this initiative. 

Management actively seeks relevant courses for their departments, and employees are encouraged to approach senior personnel with their interests. 

Over the years, employees have enrolled in a diverse array of courses, from sales and marketing to engineering and IT. Roger’s guiding principle was clear: “If a person ever leaves Coinadrink, they should do so in a better position than when they started.” 

Since his passing in 2022, his son Tom Williams has taken the helm as Managing Director. In 2023, the business became an officially recognised Real Living Wage provider and started offering premium private healthcare to staff. 

They also hosted their first staff social event at Flight Club in Birmingham, further strengthening company culture. 

Managing Director Tom Williams shared his pride at the news: 

“We are over the moon to have retained our Investors in People Gold accreditation. We have been long-term advocates for measuring how our staff think of us as an employer and continuously look at ways that we can make Coinadrink a better place to work. 

This in turn leads to our team delivering a better service to our customers. To have retained our Gold accreditation during such an economically turbulent time for people makes me proud that the measures we have taken to look after our team have been well received.” 

Looking ahead, Coinadrink plans to host another staff social event later this year, continuing the long-standing tradition of creating a supportive work environment. 

In the meantime, the shiny gold plaque now holds a place of pride in Coinadrink’s reception area, serving as a delightful talking point for those in and outside of the business. 

Meanwhile, the business has also been reaccredited with the three ISO stamps. 

The trio highlight Coinadrink’s commitment to their team, customers, community, and products and services in the West Midlands. They have held the three accreditations since 2001 and have always successfully retained them every passing three years. 

ISO 9001 is a globally recognised standard for quality management, helping organisations improve performance, meet customer expectations, and demonstrate commitment to quality. 

It promotes continuous improvement, reduces inefficiencies, waste, and streamlines operations. Coinadrink holds weekly quality meetings to proactively solve and predict issues, maintaining high customer satisfaction. 

ISO 14001 is a globally recognised standard for environmental management systems. 

It signifies a forward-thinking approach to minimising environmental impact, complying with legal requirements, and achieving environmental objectives. Benefits include reduced waste, cost savings, and promoting a sustainable future. 

Finally, ISO 45001 provides a framework for managing and reducing risks, improving performance, and protecting workers. 

It encourages systematic hazard assessment and risk control, leading to reduced work-related injuries and incidents, making it an essential standard worldwide. 

MD Tom Williams was equally delighted at these reaccreditations. 

“These certifications are a real commitment from us to our staff and customers that we have the right procedures and policies in place to deliver a great service and when something does go wrong, that we action corrective measures effectively and efficiently.”