Best Companies Factors: My Team

Leisure & Hospitality

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Barrhead Travel

The bespoke Training Academy offers industry-leading onboarding, personalised development plans, and accredited Modern Apprenticeship programmes. This investment in the next generation provides clear career pathways, fosters a motivated, skilled workforce, and helps reduce turnover and boost retention across the organisation.

Managers participate in a bespoke internal Leadership Programme of six modules over 12 months, developing core skills tailored to the culture. Regular welfare check-ins with employees on long-term sick leave and a visible, approachable leadership style ensure ongoing support and quick resolution of concerns.

Lively team talks feature Saturday morning TikTok dance challenges, which add an energetic twist and encourage bonding. Theme days like Wear It Purple promote fun and support important causes, while quarterly business updates and social events strengthen connections and foster a people-first culture.

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Birdworld

The company supports its people's development through apprenticeships and CPD training, for example, the keeper team completes CPD with local wildlife charities. Leadership and management skills workshops are also offered, covering topics like communication and behaviour role modelling, with ongoing support from the People & Development team.

Birdworld's leaders are a key part of the day-to-day operations, working alongside their teams to support staff, guests and animals. This hands-on approach breaks down barriers, fostering a supportive environment where all team members feel comfortable providing feedback and sharing their views.

Birdworld empowers teams by involving them in daily operations and fostering an environment of direct, two-way discussion during weekly team meetings. This collaborative approach, combined with the "Good Egg Awards" peer recognition scheme, strengthens bonds and ensures that contributions are acknowledged and celebrated.

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Financial Services

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Bumper International

Bumper supports colleague development through the Bumper Levels framework. This system clearly outlines the specific steps required for an individual to progress to the next level, helping them understand their own career path and empowering them to take charge of their professional growth.

Managers are empowered to develop their skills through structured opportunities like LinkedIn Learning courses and comprehensive “Managers How-To” guides. The Bumper Levels framework also helps managers support their teams' growth, ensuring they have the tools to provide meaningful feedback and guide their colleagues' success.

The annual three-day retreat brings the Bumper team together in locations like Lisbon or rural France. This event allows colleagues from different departments to reconnect, get outside, and reset, fostering stronger relationships and a more cohesive and collaborative working environment.

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Financial Services

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Medicash Health Benefits Limited

Managers at Medicash are supported with leadership training and encouraged to engage in external learning and industry events. This is complemented by internal knowledge-sharing sessions, which promote peer learning and cross-functional collaboration, helping employees to develop new skills.

A strong and inclusive culture is fostered by blending in-person connection with digital collaboration. The hybrid working model, which requires employees to be in the office at least two days a week, supports team cohesion and encourages informal interactions, enhancing collective engagement and morale.

Medicash is dedicated to improving wellbeing for everyone. For employees, this includes access to confidential counselling, 24/7 GP services, and digital wellbeing tools. This support framework helps maintain resilience, promotes a healthy work-life balance, and encourages mental and emotional wellness.

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Technology

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Planet IT

Planet IT invests in staff training and rewards, promoting personal growth and skill utilisation. The organisation’s focus on continuous learning through official courses enables employees to feel challenged and opens up opportunities for career progression.

The strong 'Planet Family' culture at Planet IT encourages team spirit and a sense of belonging. Regular team-building activities, from skydiving to trips abroad, foster unity and ensure employees have fun while working.

Planet IT acknowledges the importance of wellbeing with initiatives like mental health support and discounted gym memberships. These initiatives help employees maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life, contributing to their overall performance.

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Health & Social Care

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Cinnamon Care Collection

Managers are highly trained in listening skills and in spotting and managing problems. They are encouraged to coach and mentor their successors, and the company offers a 360-degree feedback programme for leaders, all of which contribute to creating a supportive environment where team members feel comfortable asking for help.

Teams are encouraged to engage in physical activities together, such as walking for charity. The ‘Celebrating Cultures’ initiative promotes an inclusive environment where teams and residents embrace different cultures. The 'Sprinkle of Cinnamon' project also unites team members to make residents’ wishes come true, fostering a sense of shared purpose and camaraderie.

In addition to a competitive 3.5% pay rise for care team members, the company’s career structure is a significant part of its reward strategy. It also offers the 'Spice of Life' benefits programme, which supports employee wellbeing, purchases, health, and pensions, ensuring a fair and rewarding employment experience.

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Retail

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Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists

Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists offers several development courses throughout the year, open to all employees. Its internal programme is aimed at creating world-class practice managers signifying the organisation’s commitment to fostering a culture of growth and development.

At Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists, managers are equipped with the tools they need to support their teams effectively. The internal programme 'Greatness Starts with You' underscores the importance of supportive, trusting, and caring management in creating a world-class practice.

With regular Team Member Roadshows fostering collaboration and team spirit, Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists ensures that fun and a sense of belonging are integral to the work environment. The values awards further recognise and encourage team efforts.

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Housing Associations

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Brighter Places

Brighter Places supports personal growth through initiatives like the Brighter Places University programme and traineeships. These efforts have led to one in four promotional opportunities and 50% of management opportunities being filled by internal colleagues.

The ethos at Brighter Places is one of collaboration, trust and respect, encouraging a sense of belonging and team spirit. The company actively fosters a blame-free and supportive working environment, ensuring everyone feels valued and part of the team.

Brighter Places offers a Flexi Benefit scheme of up to £700 for wellbeing, a 6.16% pension contribution, and 30 days of annual leave. The organisation also provides an interest-free loan of up to £1000 and up to 14 weeks of company sick pay, ensuring a fair deal for their employees.

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Leisure & Hospitality

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Brewhouse & Kitchen

The Future Leaders Academy and apprenticeships, including the Brewing Apprenticeship, provide structured pathways for advancement, ensuring employees feel challenged and their skills optimised for career growth.

Brewhouse & Kitchen offer manager apprenticeship schemes, including courses such as Hospitality Manager and Operational Manager. The organisation also has a Leadership Academy, where its leaders of the future are taken through an 8 week programme.

Utilising Yapster, teams can keep up to date and communicate with anyone within the business. Brewhouse & Kitchen use the app to announce employee recognition of "Legends" programme, communicate any new menu items to drum up interest, and any key business change messages.

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Recruitment

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Masentó Group

Weekly ‘Think Bigger’ teams calls with all employees highlight successes and celebrate the journey. Regular socials take place outside of work hours, where the team are invited to attend fun and competitive activities together. There are also two group holiday incentives per year, where the team chose where they would like to go together.

There are two company holidays per year and a chance for employees to win a luxury spa break for themselves and a guest. At Masentó Group's yearly AGM, it award its 'Top Billers' and 'Living The Values' winners with trophies, champagne, and a chance to win a luxury watch.

Masentó Group's leadership team are engaged on an 18-month programme of one-to-one coaching and group sessions with an external company. Some of the topics covered are the power of influencing, embracing discomfort, understanding the different personality styles of their teams, clear communication and being accountable.

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Team Cohesion = Performance

Barrhead Travel

Birdworld

Bumper International

Medicash Health Benefits Limited

Planet IT

Cinnamon Care Collection

Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists

Brighter Places

Brewhouse & Kitchen

Masentó Group

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