The Calderdale and Huddersfield trust was formed in 2001 by the merger of Calderdale Healthcare trust and Huddersfield Healthcare Services trust. The trust's three hospitals, the Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax, the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and St Luke's Hospital in Huddersfield, provide acute healthcare services to more than 420,000 people in the areas served by the boroughs of Calderdale and Kirklees.

Prior to the merger, the two trusts had operated as independent neighbours in the West Yorkshire patch. The physical barrier separating them was the M62 motorway. Merging did not appear as an obvious option until nationwide NHS restructuring provided the opportunity to develop this partnership.

As the trusts had each achieved the Investors in People Standard as separate entities, the principles of its approach were well understood by both. The newly formed trust therefore looked to the Standard to help it identify and overcome differences in culture and identity and to support improvement in its people management and development strategies.

To find out how the Investors in People framework helped the trust to manage the merger process successfully, go to www.investorsinpeople.co.uk