WIRRAL YMCA has received the highly prestigious Investors in People - Gold Award.

Following a rigorous assessment that included lengthy interviews with a large number of staff, the Birkenhead-based organisation is among the top two percent of companies across the country who have achieved the accolade.

Chief executive Nigel Hughes said: "We are absolutely delighted to receive the extremely prestigious GOLD award for Investors in People and more so as this is our 140th anniversary year of our founding.

"This is a fantastic result and the Lead Assessor was very complimentary in the feedback, noting that there is ‘Quality in everything we do".

"It is a whole organisation achievement, the quality and personal commitment of staff to continuous improvement both for the YMCA on Wirral and for themselves is truly outstanding - we will certainly be celebrating."