A plaque recognising the achievements of an inspection contract company at Valero Pembroke Refinery has been unveiled at the site by First Minister Carwyn Jones and Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb.

CAN Group are a leading provider of engineering, inspection and maintenance solutions, and have held the inspection and rope access contract at Pembroke Refinery since 2000, employing around 50 staff on site. Following a rigorous audit of their management and personnel at the refinery, CAN have been successfully accredited with Investors in People Gold Status.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: "Valero's track record in the Energy sector speaks for itself. Seeing the scale and investment going on here highlights just how important the petroleum industry is to the Welsh economy. Not only does it directly employ hundreds of staff, it also supports contractors and suppliers across the country.

"CAN (Offshore) Ltd has worked with Investors in People since July 2014, and in that time has safeguarded vital jobs and demonstrated an exemplary approach to managing, valuing and developing its people, as reflected by this award. The achievement of Gold accreditation by CAN represents a truly cutting-edge organisation implementing the highest levels of people management practices. I congratulate them on their achievement."

Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Crabb said: "A key part of the UK Government's plan for growth is to build a skilful and dynamic workforce in Wales.

"CAN are a great example of what can be achieved when employers take the time to support and train their staff. Thanks to the strong training and development opportunities, they now have a highly skilled and effective workforce. I am pleased they are receiving the recognition they deserve. It's important that Welsh employers strive for the best standards so we can retain a workforce able to help companies compete both here and abroad."

Chris Davies, CAN Group contract manager at Pembroke Refinery, said: "The Investors in People Gold accreditation awarded to CAN Group at Pembroke Refinery is a huge success for the entire CAN workforce. Over the course of our 15 years here at the refinery, CAN has built a reputation locally for providing significant training opportunities and career prospects for our Pembrokeshire workforce. This award is recognition of the strong emphasis we place on raising standards and investing in our people for the future."

Ed Tomp, Valero vice-president and general manager of Pembroke Refinery, said: "CAN Group is an integral part of Valero's site workforce, and the work they do is incredibly important for the safe and reliable operation of Pembroke Refinery. Their success in achieving this Investors in People Gold accreditation is a testament to the importance placed by the energy industry on investing in the Welsh workforce both directly and through the vital supply chain that supports our sector."

Investors in People was established in 1991 to help organisations get the best from their people, and is a prestigious accreditation recognised across the world as a mark of excellence.