YGAM receives recognition for positive employment practices

The Young Gamers & Gamblers Education Trust (YGAM) has received a gold accreditation by Investors in People in recognition of its positive employment practices.

Gold accreditations are awarded to organisations in which all employees, ranging from CEOs to apprentice level, take active ownership of ‘established policies’ and make them ‘come to life.’

In Investors in People’s report, YGAM was praised for creating a ‘great place to work’, whilst also pointing to how the ‘passion and loyalty from people towards YGAM shines through’. 

“Achieving the Gold Standard is testament to the hard-working team and is an illustration of how our People Strategy has really become embedded in the YGAM,” remarked Lee Willows, Chief Executive of YGAM.

“It is our people that make YGAM a special place to work and I am immensely proud of the impact our team achieves on a daily basis in the delivery of our social cause.”

In addition, Investors in People found that 100% of YGAM staff believe the charity has a positive impact on society. In cooperation with GamCare, the group exceeded its targets for 2020, having trained 2,906 practitioners throughout the entire year, who in turn provided educational sessions on problem gambling to 184,700 young people.

Investors in People also praised the organisation for ‘obtaining external accreditation and having gained many positive reviews from clients, including City & Guilds Assured and the Association of Employment and LearningProviders and NCVQ Trusted Charity, and having registered with the fundraising regulator’.

Paul Devoy, CEO of Investors in People, added: “We’d like to congratulate YGAM. Gold accreditation on We invest in people is a fantastic effort for any organisation, and places YGAM in fine company with a host of organisations that understand the value of people.”

The announcement follows YGAM’s recognition with a PSHE Education Award at the Children & Young People Now Awards ceremony, in addition to three other national honours.

“We are all thrilled with this rating. It is hugely rewarding for everyone who has been on the incredible journey YGAM over the last few years,” commented Sam Calvert Smit, Human Resources Manager at YGAM.

“Our fantastic team of teachers, practitioners, parents and individuals with lived experience continues to grow and make a real difference. YGAM recently scooped four national awards including the PSHE Education Award at the Children & Young People Now Awards. 

“The PSHE Education Award honours organisations that ‘provide outstanding resources to educators for PSHE education, delivering materials and lesson plans that align cohesively with current national curriculum requirements.”