My Team

Consultancy

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Veramed

Recent staff socials have ranged from a Ukrainian cookery class to scavenger hunts, with some wine and chocolate tasting thrown in. The events were run remotely using funds ring-fenced early in the pandemic. Exercise hasn't been forgotten and a professional yoga instructor and personal trainer run classes online at lunchtime.

Daily stand-up virtual meetings allow teams to discuss the day ahead while enjoying their morning coffee. These 15-20 minute calls also provide the opportunity to start the day with a human connection and the chance to ask colleagues for advice on work issues.

An environmentally preferred purchasing policy encourages employees to be mindful of the way in which they manage their travel, purchase office equipment and stationery and manage their home office. Company offices have been equipped with energy trackers, all waste is recycled and use of recycled and non-toxic products is encouraged.

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Marketing & Media Agencies

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Uniform Group

Uniform is passionate about creating an open dialogue about mental health and it has four qualified Mental Health First Aiders across the group. It also has a menstrual health policy, designed to protect and support team members. Employees have access to medical support via Simply Health, and wellbeing services, including counselling, via The Circle Line.

Every quarter, Uniform hosts a company-wide lunch where a different team cooks for everyone. The events are always coordinate with when its remote people are working from its Liverpool HQ so everyone can get involved. The lunches are themed, such as in April which was Venezuelan-themed, serving traditional arepas and home-made lemonade.

Uniform benchmarks salaries to ensure fair pay for all employees. It also offers length of service awards, including £2,000 in holiday vouchers after 10 years. The organisation further rewards employees by regularly offering to pay for them and their families to go to a restaurant and have a meal on the company.

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Retail

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The Entertainer

The Entertainer's charitable giving is displayed each year when 10% of its annual net profit goes to charity. Employees are encouraged to contribute via Payroll Giving, demonstrating its commitment to society. Its involvement in the Pennies scheme further underscores this commitment.

The Entertainer's focus on wellbeing is evident through initiatives to ensure a balance between work and home life, whilst aiming to reduce stress in the workplace and boost employee engagement. Its Health MOT sessions and wellbeing week activities are enjoyed within the business each year.

Team members interact with one another throughout the year via activities produced within the company. Exercises including Pilates, Reflexology and Yoga provide opportunities for team members to connect, reinforcing a sense of belonging.

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Education & Training

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Educ8 Group

Supporting employees’ health and safety while working from home, the company provides all staff with a £150 ‘Healthy Workstation Allowance’. This allowance ensures that employees have the correct workstation set up at home to work comfortably and effectively. An employee assistance programme is also available to all staff from their very first day of employment.

The organisation’s Gr8 days provides the perfect environment for team building. Employees have the opportunity to relax and meet colleagues within their teams and across the Group. Over 200 staff attended the last Gr8 day, with a business update in the morning followed by a BBQ, garden lawn games, face painting and a live band.

The CEO and leadership team communicate objectives on a regular basis through a business plan that outlines the goals for the company located on a central system for all to access. All new employees are invited to enjoy coffee and croissants with the Directors, where they discuss the Culture, Values and ‘open door’ approach.

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Financial Services

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The Cumberland

The Cumberland’s 'Power Hours' programme provides regular opportunities for personal growth, equipping managers with new skills and knowledge. This initiative encourages ongoing learning and skill utilisation, fostering advancement opportunities within the organisation.

The Cumberland’s Straight Talk for People Managers ensures that managers are well-informed, enabling them to confidently lead their teams. This initiative promotes trust, support, and care, strengthening the bond between managers and their teams.

The Cumberland fosters team spirit and a sense of belonging through regular social events such as the annual Christmas party, quiz nights, walks, and shopping trips. These initiatives help cultivate a fun and inclusive work environment.

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Architect & Surveyor

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Ryder Architecture

The people at Ryder Architecture enjoy annual team trips to expand their knowledge and strengthen bonds, as well as opportunities for international secondments. The organisation captures life beyond work, from charity events to family days, and invest in a culture that is built by its people, for its people.

Ryder Architecture’s internal summit, Blueprint is a unique aspect to the business. Hosted each year, the leadership team shares the practice’s goals for the year, announce promotions, and present awards which recognise great achievements, stand out contributions to the business, and outstanding project work.

Staff are supported through the provision of 80+ hours of training per person, per annum through the Ryder360 Learning Programme, which encompasses all aspects of personal development and covers personal skills. This is to support the continuing professional development of its people, including those working towards charterships.

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Business Services

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The Portfolio Group

The company's managers are developed internally, with a Director mentoring each manager through weekly one-to-ones, providing advice and guidance. Managers are also given the autonomy to lead their own teams, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for training and development.

Team spirit is fostered through shared experiences like the company holiday to Monaco and other regular incentives, including sports and charity events. The "wrap up" meetings bring all three offices together, ensuring every team member is connected and aware of company-wide achievements, successes, and promotions.

The company provides market-leading commission schemes and offers clear, transparent guidelines on targets and expectations. The annual all-expenses-paid incentive trip, such as the recent one to Monaco, is a reward for achieving targets and is open to all employees.

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Consultancy

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OFR Consultants

The purpose of the organisation’s OFR Mind Matters initiative is to promote awareness and educate colleagues about mental health to reduce the stigma and drive a supportive and healthy work environment. It aims to provide representation throughout the company to discuss, agree and manage ideas and initiatives. All representatives are trained Mental Health First Aiders.

OFR Consultants has always been an agile team and flexible in delivery. The team all got together for a few days at Rookery Hall for an away day. The organisation believes that while it is a team that can deliver remotely, the bonds formed when everyone meets together, are what make that possible.

OFR Consultant have further developed its Better Days programme, encouraging colleagues to volunteer their skills for charitable causes and give back to their communities. By providing each staff member with two days paid leave, this initiative promotes involvement and engages the team to undertake pro-bono work on a project close to their heart.

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Financial Services

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Newable

The company builds team spirit and a sense of belonging through social events like Thirsty Thursdays, Fish and Chip Fridays, and annual summer and Christmas parties. These initiatives promote camaraderie among staff and contribute to a vibrant work culture.

Newable offers a comprehensive benefits package including up to 30 days of holiday, a pension, sick pay, a free mortgage service, payroll giving, and an annual flu jab. This package is designed to reward employees fairly for their hard work.

Newable's leadership encourages employees to uphold the company's core values: Dream Big, Get Going, Grow Together, Always Improve, and Pass It On. These values guide the company's decision-making process and inspire employees to strive for excellence.

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Education & Training

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Lantra

The organisation arranges a variety of wellbeing and social events for all employees throughout the year in order to build relationships between teams. Furthermore, managers have access to their own social budget to arrange events for their teams, in addition to the corporate budget for social events.

Employee salaries are reviewed every 12 months and they are internally and externally benchmarked. High street vouchers are also awarded throughout the year to celebrate employees who show great performance or demonstrate great behaviours.

The organisation runs a management training programme to help their leaders develop and better support their teams. The programme is modular, focusing on leadership, managing a team, managing performance, communication, and goal setting

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Team Cohesion = Performance

Veramed

Uniform Group

The Entertainer

Educ8 Group

The Cumberland

Ryder Architecture

The Portfolio Group

OFR Consultants

Newable

Lantra

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