What are companies doing with regards to 'My Company'

The company has a very clear set of values that provide the foundation of their culture and behaviour. They have been written down and communicated since the company was founded. The values are reinforced from the top by company founder, Ian Hellens, who leads by example and demonstrates them in action at every opportunity, illustrating the difference the values make to their team and their clients. The senior management team spend time with recruitment partners and with candidates during their three stage interview process to ensure every recruit has the right DNA, in other words, that they naturally live the company values with integrity. The senior management team also bring the values to life at the start and end of the four day induction for new joiners, ensuring that the values are at the heart of the organisation from day 1. During the quarterly regional events, the senior management team present awards to members of the team who have demonstrated the values in action. They hold people to account for living the values and encourage the whole team to embed the values in our day to day business.

The company has a very clear set of values that provide the foundation of their culture and behaviour. They have been written down and communicated since the company was founded. The values are reinforced from the top by company founder, Ian Hellens, who leads by example and demonstrates them in action at every opportunity, illustrating the difference the values make to their team and their clients. The senior management team spend time with recruitment partners and with candidates during their three stage interview process to ensure every recruit has the right DNA, in other words, that they naturally live the company values with integrity. The senior management team also bring the values to life at the start and end of the four day induction for new joiners, ensuring that the values are at the heart of the organisation from day 1. During the quarterly regional events, the senior management team present awards to members of the team who have demonstrated the values in action. They hold people to account for living the values and encourage the whole team to embed the values in our day to day business.

The company are committed to the training and development of their workforce and to this end they have achieved Gold status with investors in people. Some examples of their employee development include: structured induction and probation process comprehensive training plan for all new employees bespoke training to meeting additional needs of young people. All care staff expected and supported to achieve QCT level 3 in care. All managers expected and supported to achieve QCF level 5 in management. The development of a bespoke performance management supervision tool which addresses the Focus, Skills and engagement of staff and helps managers give constructive evidence based feedback across all areas thereby enhancing performance and engagement in the work place. Supervision policy ensuring regular supervision and support is provided to staff Mentoring and coaching to support new staff and existing staff develop skills Development of life skills through our company wide IT skills development program enabling all staff to achieve NVQ level 2 in IT. Giving opportunities for staff to champion areas of work in the organisation such as Health and Safety, Environment thereby developing additional skills such as chairing meetings.

The company are committed to the training and development of their workforce and to this end they have achieved Gold status with investors in people. Some examples of their employee development include: structured induction and probation process comprehensive training plan for all new employees bespoke training to meeting additional needs of young people. All care staff expected and supported to achieve QCT level 3 in care. All managers expected and supported to achieve QCF level 5 in management. The development of a bespoke performance management supervision tool which addresses the Focus, Skills and engagement of staff and helps managers give constructive evidence based feedback across all areas thereby enhancing performance and engagement in the work place. Supervision policy ensuring regular supervision and support is provided to staff Mentoring and coaching to support new staff and existing staff develop skills Development of life skills through our company wide IT skills development program enabling all staff to achieve NVQ level 2 in IT. Giving opportunities for staff to champion areas of work in the organisation such as Health and Safety, Environment thereby developing additional skills such as chairing meetings.

Extra Care scheme (for very elderly and vulnerable residents) was recently renovated, including the creation of sensory gardens. In addition to the south garden, which also includes a BBQ area for summer parties, a ‘wildlife walk' has been created with elevated views of Poole Harbour, and a courtyard with beautifully scented evergreen pine, rosemary and euphorbia. Residents are thrilled with the results. This has had the desired impact of encouraging elderly residents to leave their flats and enjoy the gardens and socialise with other residents; with important health benefits. There are now successful community gardens in areas that no-one believed they could work, and local youngsters are getting to understand where their food comes from, and learn about healthy eating. They support the local credit union (Coastal Community Savings and Loans) and offer the time of their staff to support the running and good governance of this organisation.

Actions speak louder than words and the senior managers believe in the importance of following up on commitments. Treat each other with respect and understanding: Everyone is treated equitably and fairly and Dignity at Work policy is taken very seriously. Recognise value in people: We have regular meetings at which the senior management team gives updates on the company's business plan and forthcoming objectives, and information is also communicated via email. Business and team plans are available for all staff to view on our IT network. Employees are encouraged to challenge and not be afraid to speak up. Performance in all areas of the organisation is analysed through regular reporting on key performance indicators, and from the Customer Service Excellence accreditation. The senior team ensures that where areas for improvement are identified, the appropriate action is taken to address any issues. Strive for excellence:

Pinnacle's core value is all about supporting their people, and as they are a UK wide organisation, getting teams together is very important to them. Therefore the company organisers departmental conferences eg. Support department conference (held this year in Newcastle), Consultant's conference (held this year in Warwickshire). At these conferences they have the opportunity to discuss opportunities/challenges specific their department and meet up with colleagues who are working in a different geographical area. Another way the company demonstrates this core value is by allowing many of their staff the flexibility to work from home, this helps significantly with their "work life balance".

Pinnacle's core value is all about supporting their people, and as they are a UK wide organisation, getting teams together is very important to them. Therefore the company organisers departmental conferences eg. Support department conference (held this year in Newcastle), Consultant's conference (held this year in Warwickshire). At these conferences they have the opportunity to discuss opportunities/challenges specific their department and meet up with colleagues who are working in a different geographical area. Another way the company demonstrates this core value is by allowing many of their staff the flexibility to work from home, this helps significantly with their "work life balance".

Commitment, dedication, passion and organisation are some of the values senior management possess, so as to have the required influence for others to follow and be part of the common goal for all to share in the continuous success of the Company. Their knowledge of the Industry coupled with their decisiveness creates confidence and security.

The company has understanding and approachable management. They also have attainable targets/ workloads.

The company strategy is aligned to one of their core values - ability, and their primary guiding principle; superior financial performance. The desired outcomes are to drive superior sustainable financial performance and enhance the retention. Promotion and development of high performing staff who live the company values. The company has a progressive pay scheme benchmarked to ensure they pay median basic salaries for the appropriate grades they offer. From the outset they make it clear that talented sales staffs who are successful will obtain superior earnings, however they will never seek to drive a culture of high basic salary low value performance incentives.

Throughout the company's portfolio of brands ability, character and loyalty underpin and drive their performance. In order to maintain this culture and ethos the company regularly communicates these values to employees, at all stages of their careers via various media. Prior to and starting employment prospective hires receive “Phaidon at a Glance” Brochure and new hires receive a pack which outlines information about working at Phaidon, including information about the company's mission, vision and values. On induction, new employees are also shown the Phaidon Story video. This enables employees to be well versed on their purpose, ambition, core principles, culture and ethos even before they start work. During Monthly Business Reviews and assessment for promotions, employees are asked to explain how they regularly demonstrate ability, loyalty and character. Monthly newsletter and quarterly round pp meetings awards and mentions for ability, loyalty, character are announced within the monthly newsletter and quarterly round up meetings held by the CEO. Those who are mentioned are invited to attend lunch club rewards. Senior Management Away Days and AGM to further launch a new Mission statement.

The senior management team live, breathe and assess company values regularly, they show their commitment to this through promoting the values daily at team meetings where the values are brought to life. The senior management are also measured on behaviours which encompass all of the Company values, as are all of their colleagues. The senior management team are also very visible on site, once again displaying values such as team work and recognition.

On day 2 of the Company's Induction all new colleagues attend a Giving Back day at the Salvation Army, here they volunteer with community action tasks such as gardening, litter picking, painting/decorating houses, working in schools and help to arrange other community based activities to improve the environmental area and transform lives. Every year the company support's Children in Need and all dealerships have fun in raising up to £40,000! All new colleagues are also given £100 to donate to a charity of their choice when the join the Company. This year the company also donated 600 school bags filled with all the essentials such as pens, pencils, paper, rubbers, calculator and rulers for both primary and secondary children. This has a huge impact on some of the most vulnerable children who are often teased and bullied, therefore often go truant or at the very best don't have the basics needed to do their homework or school stuff, meaning they fall further behind. Each dealership works closely with a Charity Partner of their choice, throughout the year colleagues fundraise, volunteer and raise awareness to help these charities to continue doing the wonderful work they are.

Pension Protection Fund have completed a series of health and wellbeing workshops for the last year to positively engage with employees and help enhance their health and wellbeing. The topics have been varied to encourage employees to attend. The company have run workshops of mindfulness, sleep deprivation, nutrition, fitness, impact on the immune system, dealing with difficult people, resilience, work/life balance, people skills, how to deal with lack of energy, how to take control and sharpen your focus. The sessions are normally led by external provider: ‘Feelgood'. The company have had nutritionists, clinical psychologists, mindfulness practitioners and sports consultants in to lead and engage with their employees. The sessions tend to be held in a boardroom with the speakers guiding the attendees through slides, enabling discussion and on occasion group work. Sometimes the session can be interactive such as the fitness session. The slides and handouts are then posted to the intranet for download. The handouts that accompany the slides have soundbites and top tips around health and wellbeing, and all have been positively welcomed. Pension Protection Fund also run monthly free fruit drops for employees, they provide enough fruit for an am and pm drop in both market squares and signpost reminders each month that the fruit drop is available.

In 2014, all teams across the PPF took part in creating a highly visual ‘rich art' journey picture to engage everyone in the company's desire to be a high-performing Customer Focused Financial Institution (CFFI) to deliver their vision and mission through their values. Launched at an all-staff event in July 2014, the final picture is a tool to prompt ongoing conversations, in teams and between colleagues, driving a shared sense of purpose. The picture is used in different ways to effectively communicate the company's CFFI messages on an ongoing basis including: ‘Welcome to the PPF' session for new joiners – teams explain their part in enabling the PPF to achieve objectives by sharing their ‘story' within the framework of the picture, large 3D ‘cut-outs' from the picture were created as visual aids to support messages at our the company staff event in June 2015 (eg putting the customer at the heart of they we do and the importance of embracing a commercial mind-set), giant posters have been placed around the company's building in breakout areas to promote peer to peer discussions and images from the picture illustrate relevant messages/case studies in the company's recently launched employee magazine ‘Connect'.

The company have a huge amount of initiatives aimed at supporting development, from lunchtime CPD sessions, the annual £250 budget per person for spending on (if desired non-work related) training, regular training courses and a full programme for supporting trainee architects through their Part 3 qualification. Support for the Part 3 qualification includes a £1,000 contribution towards course fees, placing them on projects which are suitable case studies for their Part 3, running an internal lecture series, formal study groups, and mentoring and examination preparation run by those Partners who are also external examiners.

The company have recently been through a rebranding exercise and brought all employees into the process. The team was invited to contribute ideas towards the vision of the practice, some of which are being implemented. The company communicate through monthly breakfast presentations, design presentations and charettes and the company intranet.

Employee Business Forum Values are used in all employee communications and featured in all internal training materials.

Employee Business Forum Values are used in all employee communications and featured in all internal training materials.