Best Companies Factors: Giving Something Back

Recruitment

Claremont Consulting

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As part of its employee benefits, Claremont Consulting offers a detailed health care plan including access to a 24-hour hotline, medical, dental and optical care, and therapy treatments. As an additional employee benefit it provides the Westfield Health plan which offers subsided gym membership for all employees.

The company organises employee culture days paid for by Claremont Consulting which involve competitive and inclusive tasks. For example the team recently attended a Battle Bar where employees were able to play games of pool, table tennis, and shuffle board along with Clay Pigeon shooting for its Christmas party.

Throughout the year Claremont Consulting organises various activities to support charities. These include an internal table tennis competition, a Grand National Sweepstake, and a business fives football tournament. Instead of a company Secret Santa, each employee bought a toy for a child of refuge to receive as a Christmas present through the KidsOut charity.

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Housing Associations

Wales & West Housing

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Each Director is responsible for ensuring that the employee experience in their area is consistent with the organisational values - they meet regularly with all staff, not just their own direct reports, to ensure that employees understand the Group’s organisation’s culture as well as having the chance to have their voices heard.

Wales & West Housing’s graduate programme offers fixed term positions combining genuine experience in the role alongside appropriate study and support. It also offers a number of Trade Apprenticeships with Cambria, learning through experience of repairs and upgrades on homes including electrical works, gas and plumbing works and multi skilled repairs.

The organisation supported over 50 community groups and projects in 2023. In North Wales it supported Rhyl Foodbank, in West Wales, Cardigan and Pembrokeshire Foodbank received funding to support their work in the community. In Mid Wales, Welshpool and District Foodbank received financial assistance to purchase more food supplies. In the South it supported AcePlace.

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Health & Social Care

The Big Life group

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The Confident Manager training programme provides opportunities for personal growth and development. The training ensures new managers are equipped with the necessary skills to lead effectively.

The Big Life Group’s leadership, led by CEO Fay Selvan, shows its commitment to staff through personal gestures like hand-delivering trophies. The leadership’s values are reflected in their hands-on approach and commitment to community service.

The Big Life Group shows its dedication to giving back through initiatives like the food bank and the anti-food waste project. These initiatives underline the organisation's commitment to supporting the community and environment.

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Charity's

St Martins

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St Martins follows the National Joint Committee salary scale. All roles are linked to a job family which has a number of points which team members move up annually on 1 April. In 2023, the NJC increase was substantial, with the lower paid ranges receiving a 7% increase.

The Director of Operations holds Team Leader and Manager development sessions on a regular basis. This is an opportunity to discuss issues and ask questions and ask advice with peers in a safe and confidential environment. Most recently a longer session was held covering performance management, disciplinary and capability.

St Martins was part of a team which worked with the local community to prepare a communal garden for its 100th year anniversary. This involved a group of team members working alongside the community and the purchase of a tree. It has also planted several trees as part of its commitment to the Queens Canopy.

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Housing Associations

Ongo

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Quarterly "Ask the Executive Leadership Team" sessions take place online so that staff can take part where ever they work — including sitting in a van between jobs. They give employees the chance to ask questions, share ideas or raise concerns. Pulse surveys via text and email ask staff how the organisation might improve.

Ongo have environmental practices in place such as a cycle to work scheme, encouraging the use of public transport, encouraging working from home, energy efficient IT and also making employees aware of the organisations energy consumption.

Supporting local communities is a key part of what the organisation is about. It is a regular aspect of Ongo's work, from "we care" days, when colleagues get out into the community, cleaning, painting or tidying an area, to the £1million invested in projects to improve communities in the past 12 months.

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Leisure & Hospitality

Ocean Holidays Limited

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The organisation conducts monthly company meetings for all employees. Each session delivers clear information about the current business status and plans and forecasts for the months ahead. Ocean Holidays also hosts guest speaker events to educate and share knowledge, and its annual Summer and Christmas parties, both of which are fully funded for all employees.

Ocean Holidays partners with EveryMind at Work, who run webinars on all forms of mental health and help managers to support their teams. The organisation also has trained Mental Health Champions who play a proactive role within the company and are able to sign post individuals to the get the support they need.

Ocean Holidays supports Haven House Children’s Hospice and raised over £100,000 for the charity. It regularly organises fundraising events, including sponsored walks, quiz nights, fancy dress competitions, and its annual Rudy's ramble.

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Architect & Surveyor

JTP

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The annual office study trips to places such as Lyon, London Dock, and Wapping are a testament to the firm's focus on team-building. These trips allow teams to learn about best-practice architecture, fostering team spirit and a sense of belonging.

Through initiatives like the Building Futures programme and school outreach programmes, JTP gives back to society by offering work experience, learning, and career opportunities. The firm's focus on nature-led design also shows a commitment to environmental wellbeing.

JTP offers ample opportunities for personal growth, with initiatives like weekly design reviews and fortnightly professional training groups. These initiatives not only utilise the skills of the employees but also offer a platform for learning and development.

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Demica

Demica offers a range of benefits to its employees, including personal pension, private healthcare, life assurance, and transport season ticket loans, ensuring that they receive a fair deal for their hard work.

With initiatives like the Wellness working group and the introduction of the Balance App, Demica takes a proactive approach to employee wellbeing, focusing on mental health and work-life balance.

Through its 'Giving Something Back' initiative, Demica has demonstrated its commitment to social responsibility. The initiative has raised over £7,000 for various causes, showing that the company's efforts extend beyond profit motives.

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Marketing & Media Agencies

Consumer Intelligence

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The organisation recognises employees regularly. Each month, Consumer Intelligence gives recognition awards at all company meetings. These are based on “high fives” (a peer-to-peer recognition tool) that speak to the company’s culture and values.

This year, Consumer Intelligence completed a 6-month coaching programme available to managers to learn how to have more dynamic conversations with teams and peers. It has also recently rolled out DISC insight profiles across the business which supports managers in understanding their behavioural tendencies and needs, as well as those of their teams and peers.

This year, Consumer Intelligence published its Charity and Volunteering Guide which gives suggestions for volunteering and details on how to use volunteering days. Most recently, individuals have been making use of their company volunteering day to work with the RSPCA and NHS.

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Insurance

Claims Consortium Group UK

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A dedicated section on the organisation’s communication app, Cornerstone, is focused on the mental and physical health and wellbeing of its people, with tips, hints, tools and advice on a range of subjects, including goal setting, exercise, virtual working, mental health, diet and much more.

Claims Consortium Group runs regular virtual workshops hosted by the CEO and Executive Chair. These workshops focus on providing clarity and understanding of the goals and plans for the future, updates on the organisation’s performance, and taking questions from the whole company in a live Q&A environment.

The organisation supports the homeless charity, Arc, by matching raised funds and providing 10 volunteers for a week to support the charity’s shoebox appeal. Claims Consortium Group has further helped fundraise for Stand Against Violence by holding a raffle, fancy dress competitions, and selling food.

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Purpose Boosts Engagement

Claremont Consulting

Wales & West Housing

The Big Life group

St Martins

Ongo

Ocean Holidays Limited

JTP

Demica

Consumer Intelligence

Claims Consortium Group UK

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