Having been re-accredited for ISO14001 as an organisation ESOS continue to recognise that they have a responsibility to ensure that the impact of their activities on the environment is kept to a minimum. The company encourage activities that reduce the environmental impact on both their local and wider community including: paper, mobile phone, printer, battery, stamps, aluminium and plastic bottle recycling. All PC hardware is recycled in line with the WEEE directive. ESOS also encourage car sharing where possible. This, they believe, ensures that everyone remains aware and active in the efforts to recycle. They also have a very active Charity committee who arrange a number of fundraising events for their chosen charity. Events in 2012 so far have included, fancy dress days, bikeathon, quiz night, summer family party and various raffles.

As an organisation ESOS seeks to enhance the wellbeing of its employees in a number of ways. They have an on site gym, squash court, sauna, pool table that can be used at any time and free aerobics/fitness classes at lunch time to encourage a healthy lifestyle. The company also have a fishing lake within the grounds which allows people to walk around or fish in their leisure time or they may choose to relax within the bistro area in the offices. ESOS offer free annual eye tests and have an anonymous Employee Assistance Programme provided by Norwich Union who provide counselling, information services for work, family crises and personal life challenges. Each Friday is a dress down day through a Give As You Earn scheme with all money going to their chosen charity.

The whole organisation comes together at the end of every month to celebrate the company's success and individual teams are given the opportunity to present to the whole organisation and are recognised for their success. Efficio has two annual review cycles to ensure that employees do not have to wait a full 12 months before getting feedback and acknowledgement for their hard work. Bonuses are paid bi-annually as an outcome of this review cycle which is also perceived very positively by the employees.

Each employee recieves support and coaching through two direct levels: Immediate Project Manager and Mentor. There are dedicated trainings focused on Project Management and Mentoring. The Project Manager focuses on supporting the employee on specific project needs and deliverables while the Mentor focuses on the employee's career aspirations and long-term goals.

The company are really proud to be recognised as an industry leader in Attorney training. Not only are they told this by recruitment consultants, they are recognised by their competitors and experience no problems in recruiting highly talented trainee level Attorneys. The company also has excellent retention rates.

The introduction of the cash plan, alongside the firm's private health and dental plan which is all paid for by D Young & Co, has been really well received. They have found that individuals are opting for the cash plan more than the private health. The cash plan is a great way to promote other health aspects as it incorporates optical benefits, prescription benefits, as well as alternative medicines. The firm is particularly pleased as this has also generated savings for the business, which have been reinvested into other benefits. These other benefits have included a discounted shopping portal. Whilst not directly associated with well-being, there have been two key advantages. Firstly, it has given individuals the opportunity to maximise online shopping discounts in their comfort of their own home, but it also gives discount in health and well-being areas. For example, employees can get 8% off products at Boots, as well as saving money on gym membership and other fitness activities.

It is essential that Crown recognises outstanding efforts from employees and rewards them appropriately when the opportunity arises. Performance recognition is something Crown believes is one of the best ways to improve workplace effectiveness and so has a Performance Recognition initiative that is hugely popular among employees. Following a previous survey, Crown introduced a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) award in 2011 which is presented to an individual or team who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to CSR, customer service and the general helping of others. They appreciate employees who hold similar values to theirs, in and out of the workplace, so whether a member of staff has demonstrated their contribution within their job role or in their own time, they are rewarded. Nominations are put forward by colleagues, ensuring an inclusive initiative and these are then reviewed by a panel, which comprises members of the HR team and the Head of Environment. By encouraging all employees to aspire to this scheme and nominate each other, it helps staff to feel part of a team and provides them with the chance to work towards a group goal, separate to their own individual objectives.

Each year, staff from across the UK choose a Charity of the Year that they will fundraise for. Staff are particularly fond of this initiative as the company also gives them the opportunity to take time out of their roles each month to volunteer for them. There are also countless opportunities for staff to host or take part in events. This year, the Charity of the Year was DebRA and teams from across the country really got on board with the volunteering and fund raising opportunities available. Events and fund raising initiatives included a PC Health Clinic whereby IT staff provided a drop-in service for faulty IT equipment to be fixed, an ‘Adrenalin Rush' day where employees took part in thrill-seeking adventures for sponsorship, volunteering in DebRA shops, a London to Paris bike ride and sack collections to donate stock to the charity's shops. Staff collectively raised over £50,000 for the charity, with a contribution from Crown.

The company's recognition strategy is rolled out and communicated to all managers through workshops and guidelines. This includes recognising individual achievements privately and publically e.g through 6 weekly G Forces and the annual Grafter Awards ceremony, as well as monthly Platinum Parking awards, Massages of the Month and Spin the Wheel prizes for people who have been nominated. Managers have the 'Recognition Tool Kit' as a guide and have the ability to spend a set budget on recognising individuals and teams. Everyone in the agency can nominate people through the gratitude boards, which are on public display, and all have easy access to the Thank you cards, which can be personally written and distributed in a timely manner.

The company's comprehensive internal training schedule supports the specific requirements of their employees in a way that an external provider couldn't necessarily do, as it is so specific to their business, run by people within the business. They have a true knowledge sharing focused approach, which helps to keep costs down, but has proven to be highly successful with increased percentage scores in their annual employee survey for Training & Development. It has raised skill levels across the business and supports the development plans of all employees, as it provides employees with the opportunities to learn new skills and gain further understanding of industry relevant information.

The company listens to its employees in many different ways. They have been IIP registered since 1999 and information gained from IIP assessments helps them to understand what their staff feel and think. From this they have implemented their cultural and management competencies. Listening skills are one of the company's key management competencies. The IIP assessments ensure that their management strategies are working, and employees are happy and motivated within the culture and organisation. The company also use an appraisal system that focuses on honest, two-way communication. Their appraisals are not tick-box exercises; they are in-depth discussions with employees about their development needs and career goals. The Fun Committee is a group formed to help ensure that the company promotes social activities and to create a working environment that's fun, engaging and happy.

The company listens to its employees in many different ways. They have been IIP registered since 1999 and information gained from IIP assessments helps them to understand what their staff feel and think. From this they have implemented their cultural and management competencies. Listening skills are one of the company's key management competencies. The IIP assessments ensure that their management strategies are working, and employees are happy and motivated within the culture and organisation. The company also use an appraisal system that focuses on honest, two-way communication. Their appraisals are not tick-box exercises; they are in-depth discussions with employees about their development needs and career goals. The Fun Committee is a group formed to help ensure that the company promotes social activities and to create a working environment that's fun, engaging and happy.

People are motivated and engaged by working with other smart people. The way managers implement this is to not compromise during recruitment, and keep a consistently high level of motivated and intelligent staff.

People are motivated and engaged by working with other smart people. The way managers implement this is to not compromise during recruitment, and keep a consistently high level of motivated and intelligent staff.

Christmas Party – it will always be top of the list. It is the event that all the staff look forward to.. We are City based and well aware of the fall in the number of companies holding Christmas parties over recent years. The MD of the company is proud to buck this trend, feeling that a party to show their appreciation, showcase success and say thank you for your efforts is not a luxury but a must. Year on year it is the most talked about event in the office with excitement building up weeks in advance. The company pays for food, drink and a DJ so all can let their hair down. In keeping with the family ethos of the company partners are also invited to come along and enjoy the festive cheer. Inevitably the budding singers who work for us provided some of the entertainment on the night which is always a highlight.

Within their organisation Career Legal have several awards which are designed to reward success, diligence, team and personal effort and going above and beyond. All employees are eligible for nomination and are designed not just for the fee earners but also those in support positions. The rewards themselves come in various forms and usually are something the winner has requested which has led to a variety of gifts including a sofa as the winner had just moved house, a golf buggy someone had always wanted and a spa day because it was a treat. Career Legal feel that the option to choose the reward makes it more personal ensuring the gift is extra special as it is something the recipient truly wants and will enjoy all the more.

Caerphilly County Borough Council recognises that its employees are its most valuable asset and as a result it is strongly behind looking after the health and well-being of its employees. This is evidenced by the fact that the Corporate Management Team (CMT) are fully behind health and well-being initiatives and receive quarterly updates on the strategy, progress and initiatives that the Council runs. An Employee Health and Well-being Group has been established to develop and progress the strategy across the whole of the Council. The representatives of this group are cross Directorate and include representatives from the Council's recognised trade unions. High level briefings have also taken place to all Senior Officers within the Council, so that they have not only been made aware of the Employee Health and Well-being strategy but have also been briefed on the Corporate Health Standard. Another initiative to show how seriously the Council believes in the employee health and well-being agenda is the fact that all employees have been given time off during working time to attend employee health and well-being events.

Caerphilly County Borough Council is leading the way in the UK by offering hundreds of young people the opportunity to join an ambitious Apprenticeship and Training programme. Over the past year alone more than 230 young people have signed up to the popular scheme as a work placement, apprenticeship or trainee, helping them get onto the career ladder and gain valuable work experience. The scheme, called the 'Caerphilly Passport Programme' offers a journey for individuals through the various tiers of development. There are 4 tiers in total ranging from unpaid placements to paid employees at a graduate level in specialist areas such as social work, environmental health, ecology or waste management. The authority is working closely with a number of providers including the Job Centre Plus to bring more people through who are unemployed to help them find sustainable employment. Caerphilly County Borough Council is keen to further develop the Passport Programme and provide potential opportunities for young people in the area to be able access quality work placements and training opportunities that can lead to positive outcomes.