"Unstoppable" is how national training provider Learning Curve Group describes its drive to improve its services for learners, further education partners and employers.

The County Durham-based business, which supports over 5000 businesses and 200,000 learners every year, attributes its success to its 'Purple People' – its team of more than 700 passionate employees that share the company's vision of "transforming lives through learning."

Its staff shape all areas of the business, from choosing the purple colour as part of its rebrand and creating the accompanying values, to devising induction plans for new starters.

Employees also play a key role in the recruitment process, leading peer-on-peer interviews. It includes them in important hiring decisions and can help reduce their anxiety when taking new people on. It also gives candidates more insight into roles and introduces them to the friendly faces they'd have in their team.

While the Learning Curve Group acknowledges staff may be keen to take their next career steps elsewhere, its strong culture defined by its 'Purple People' has created a significant boomerang effect, with many employees later returning with new skills to benefit the company.

And the Group is always looking at ways to attract new starters and encourage staff to stay. This has included improving its benefits package – introducing early-finish Fridays and boosting annual leave with the option to 'buy' and 'sell' days. It's also coaching managers to excel, supported through a new post – the Head of Happy People & Development.