My Team

Charity's

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caba

There are many opportunities for employees to have their say and get involved, including monthly all-staff meetings and issue-specific away days. There's also a voluntary employee forum and ones for wellbeing and equality, diversity and inclusion. And cross-team projects allow staff to flex their skills beyond their daily roles.

caba's developing a leadership framework to help managers become confident leaders capable of meeting the charity's future challenges. It already gives its leaders and managers the freedom to be creative and innovative. It trusts them to challenge actions that aren't in line with the charity's values and behaviours.

caba gives all candidates the interview questions in advance to promote a level playing field, particularly for those who are neurodiverse. There's also a buddy system to ensure new starters have a familiar face to turn to outside their team and plans for a new starter network.

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Accountancy

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Rayner Essex LLP

Due to the seasonal nature of the work within its tax team, and it being very busy in the lead-up to the personal tax deadline on 31 January, it has amended the hours to account for this variation in work.

Management information is cascaded down from the firm's leadership and shared with individual department heads, so that this information can then be shared more widely within teams. The staff partner also shares a monthly newsletter, which shares updates on the firm's financial performance; introduces new staff members and celebrates employee achievements.

The firm is very active socially and believes that building relationships outside of working together helps teams to work better together. The firm has regular informal social events, including end of months drinks, and bowling nights. The firm also has an active social committee which organises a calendar of events.

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Architect & Surveyor

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Space Architects (Europe)

Team spirit is cultivated through regular social events such as the Summer BBQ and Christmas Party, which are especially valued during hybrid working patterns. Monthly ‘Pizza Friday’ gatherings bring everyone together.

Recognition is immediate and inclusive, with initiatives like ‘Well Done and Wonderful’ shout-outs, quarterly funded nights out, and a shared end-of-year success bonus reinforcing fairness and appreciation.

Wellbeing is central to Space Architects (Europe)’s culture, with initiatives including a mental health team channel, onsite gym, and regular yoga sessions. These were introduced in response to workload pressures identified in a recent survey.

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Financial Services

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Vida Bank

To foster strong relationships between teams, Vida Bank organises regular quizzes, competitions, and challenges to support fun social interactions across teams. The organisation also brings the leadership teams together for off-site development and further hosts regular summer events to gather all employees together.

Thanks to an online recognition tool called Applause, colleagues can give and receive adhoc thank you/recognition against the company's values. The imitative, which is supported by the leadership team, sees each acknowledgement appear on an online ‘wall of fame’, where they are instantly visible so colleagues can add comments, like, and share.

Vida Bank offers a large suite of online learning and development modules to all colleagues. This covers both work and life skills, including wellbeing. In-house designed and delivered virtual skills workshops are also available via its Learning & Development framework. The catalogue of topics is continually reviewed and aligned to business and colleague requirements.

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Education & Training

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The Manufacturing Technology Centre

The Manufacturing Technology Centre offers ample opportunities for personal growth. Initiatives like the 'Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre' and the 'National Centre for Additive Manufacturing' allow employees to develop and utilise their skills in a challenging and innovative environment.

Managers at The Manufacturing Technology Centre ensure a supportive and caring environment for their team. Regular 'State of the Nation' events hosted by the Exec team provide transparency about the company's progress, strategic changes, and financial performance, fostering trust between managers and their teams.

The 'Celebrate Success - Team Building initiative' at The Manufacturing Technology Centre encourages team spirit and a sense of belonging. It allows teams to recognise and celebrate their achievements, enhancing camaraderie and fun within the team.

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Construction & Engineering

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Mears Group

The organisation continues to enhance its communications, ensuring the whole business receives a briefing on the state of the company on a bi-monthly basis, along with a cascade from the Workforce Group. These briefings are also recorded and can be shared directly with teams or individuals where managers are unable to cascade the presentations themselves.

The Group’s culture is derived from Mears’ values, and reinforced through the Red Thread Behaviours (Be Customer Focused, Be Empowering, Be Motivating, Be a Role Model, Achieve High Standards) which are referenced in all policies, initiatives and decisions. They form part of the induction, probation and annual appraisal processes, including 121 discussions.

Managers at Mears Group can undertake a range of professional qualifications, including Team leader Level 3 apprenticeships and Operational/Departmental apprenticeships Level 5. It also runs CIPD programmes and its internal management development programmes (Embed and Emerge) are accredited by ILM.

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Food & Drink

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Creed Foodservice

Whilst its gender pay gap compares favourably with organisations across the UK economy and wholesale sector, Creed Foodservice is not complacent and is committed to further reducing the gap. This includes removing barriers to gender equality such as the proportion of men and women applying for roles.

In 2022, Creed launched its leadership development programme for all 34 people managers - a yearlong commitment to both online and face-to-face sessions developed in conjunction with QuoLux - a leading international consultancy and leadership development company. Modules include Leading self, Leading teams, and Leading change.

The Food Innovation Centre is used as a hub for staff to meet in a relaxed atmosphere with food provided by an executive chef team. Being named as a Top 100 Best Company to Work For in 2022 saw events bringing all departments together with raffles and events held throughout the day.

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Financial Services

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Cifas

Cifas promotes a vibrant team culture through regular "huddles," cross-team networking meetings, and Collaboration Days, ensuring team spirit, fun, and a strong sense of belonging among colleagues.

Cifas prioritises wellbeing with initiatives like a weekly wellbeing hour, Wellbeing Cultural Champions, and a Self-Help Directory, ensuring employees maintain a healthy work-life balance and receive support for mental and physical health.

Cifas actively engages in social responsibility, partnering with organisations like Be OnHand and supporting charities such as RSPCA, Barnardo's, and Mind. These efforts encourage employees to contribute to society, enhancing their sense of purpose beyond organisational goals.

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Not For Profit Body's

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Business In The Community

Workshops and coaching are provided to managers to help them apply company values. A session at National Induction also focuses on vision and values, including a discussion exercise around real-life examples, which helps employees develop their understanding and application of these principles in the workplace.

'All Staff' events and Roadshows are used to bring colleagues together face-to-face for networking and interactive presentations. In 2015, individual teams also created brief, innovative, and entertaining videos to introduce themselves to the rest of the organisation, helping to foster a sense of community.

Business in the Community has gone through a highly consultative process to develop and refine its vision, values and core messages. This has fundamentally changed how it represents itself externally and communicates internally, demonstrating a leadership that values and involves its employees.

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Consultancy

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Ashton Fire Ltd

Team spirit is nurtured through regular in-person gatherings, including quarterly meetings and social activities, which promote bonding and a sense of belonging among colleagues, whether they are working remotely or in the office.

Employees benefit from a comprehensive package, including BUPA healthcare, enhanced family leave, and a Medicash plan, offering a fair and competitive deal that underscores Ashton Fire's commitment to employee welfare.

Ashton Fire prioritises employee wellbeing with mental health first aiders and comprehensive healthcare options, ensuring that staff have the resources and support needed to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

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Team Cohesion = Performance

caba

Rayner Essex LLP

Space Architects (Europe)

Vida Bank

The Manufacturing Technology Centre

Mears Group

Creed Foodservice

Cifas

Business In The Community

Ashton Fire Ltd

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