Best Companies Factors: My Team

Consultancy

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Makara Health Communications

Every employee received a personalised report after taking a psychometric survey. The results were then used in a workshop to help staff better understand themselves and their colleagues – their energies and preferences. Line managers are now better informed on how to communicate with their team members.

The consultancy wanted to recognise staff for their efforts and show that it was there to support them by responding to the cost-of-living crisis. It gave everybody – regardless of their position or length of service – a £700 pay increase to reflect the predicted average increase in household energy bills.

The company is experienced in helping clients with their learning and development needs and takes the same proactive approach to its own staff. It encourages them to consider the ‘learning zone’ versus ‘comfort zone’, with everyone’s annual review identifying training or growth areas. These are then taken forward through Individual coaching or group sessions.

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Technology

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Hectare Agritech

Managers are empowered to give team members time off for mental health days. Leaders have been known to share their issues to encourage colleagues to feel comfortable talking to them, so that they are supported to face challenges outside work. Office pets are strongly encouraged, as they increase positivity and happiness.

Hectare's Slack channel #Happyscrapbook is a fun space for staff to share daily or weekly highlights from their lives. Team socials provide entertaining nights out. One of this year's get-togethers was a gig at the Half Moon, in Putney, where staff cheered on their chief operating officer, Dave Rose.

Staff were given a £3,000 surprise at this year's summer event in a mystery envelope containing a "golden ticket" that was place under their chairs. The leadership team said the money was a reward for their monumental efforts and to help with the cost-of-living crisis.

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Education & Training

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University of Bolton

There are two mental health e-learning training packages available to staff and students and two mental health first-aiders on site. An employee assistance programme offers support, advice and information. Confidential counselling and online cognitive behavioural therapy sessions are provided.

Team away-days take place at the group's outdoor activity centre, the Anderton Centre, in Rivington, Lancashire's mini Lake District. Managers work in partnership with centre staff to run water- and land-based adventure and problem-solving activities as team-building exercises.

The University of Bolton Group donated 50 bikes to Ukrainian refugees in the town, so that they are not reliant on their hosts for transports. It also pioneered a free legal advice centre to support the Bolton community. It was staffed by law students and overseen by lecturers, .

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Technology

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PebblePad

Team building days are conducted periodically. A team gets together in the office to spend time with each other, review their workloads and discuss next steps. The days include a team lunch and provide the chance to learn together and boost team spirit.

As part of a move by to improve organisational clarity, new staff are given a buddy. The buddy provides discreet, non-judgemental pastoral support and helps them to acclimatise to the new environment. For the rest of the team, quarterly "all-hands-on" reviews bring the opportunity for senior leaders and team members to ask questions.

PebblePad has a wellness policy offering two days per year for employees to focus on self-care. There is also a 'Wellbeing Workgroup', a team of volunteers from across the business who raise and discuss wellbeing initiatives, including mental health first aiders at work, a wellness policy and raising awareness of World Mental Health Day.

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Retail

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Ooni Pizza Ovens

As a member of 1% for the Planet, the company gives to environmental partners. It donates another 1% of annual turnover to the Ooni Impact Fund, which supports environmental, social and humanitarian causes. Partnerships reflect its values and focus on zero hunger, responsible consumption and production, climate action and life below water and on land.

Staff nominate colleagues who have lived by one of the five company values. The nominations are announced by the executive team in company-wide meetings and/or sent to the individual’s line manager for discussion during one-to-one meetings and reviews. Annual awards are voted for by staff. Winners receive an extra £500 from the company's 'passion fund'.

Every department has had more flexibility about where they work over the past 18 months. Applications to work fully remotely/overseas have been considered on a case-by-case basis. All team members have been able to decide how much time they want to spend in office. The only exception is the product development team.

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Education & Training

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Action Tutoring

The communication platform, Slack, is used to keep staff informed and in touch with each other. Informal communication is promoted through social channels such as "elevenses", a gardening group and a book club. Guests are invited to team meetings to encourage mixing between departments and lunch-and-learn and tea-break calls bring people together.

A diversity and inclusion working group has made important improvements. They include winning an 'Altogether Better Inclusive Recruitment Grant' from recruitment agency, TPP, which has led to a review of the charity's recruitment practices. It has also created a trans and non-binary FAQs document to increase understanding among staff.

There are regular opportunities for group training and development at team away-days, as well as e-learning throughout the year. Some staff also have external coaches or mentors. As part of the appraisal programme, staff must complete learning and development plans which are used to create the organisation's training budget.

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Business Services

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Hilton Smythe Commercial

Senior management have changed their vehicles to hybrid and fully electric cars and there are electrical charging points fitted at the business. The company is also planting trees to offset its carbon footprint.

The company aims to ensure that when staff request time off at short notice, it can be accommodated. Close communication has been kept with anybody who is suffering using texts or taking them out for lunch or coffee to engage in supportive conversation.

A visit to a theme park makes up the annual team-building event, and there are others during the year to enhance communication between colleagues. Engagement is also encouraged through Christmas parties, early finishes, dress-down days, exclusive discounts and free treats and gift vouchers for good customer service feedback.

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Recruitment

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Daniel Owen

Monthly wrap-ups are used to celebrate teams' successes and encourage communication about shortfalls and lessons learnt. These are vital to create a strong team, leading to robust bonds between teams and, ultimately, the entire business. Managers also benefit from quarterly meetings together, with interesting brain-teaser challenges thrown in for fun.

Knowledge accrued within the company over the years has been compiled on a new e-learning hub. It means new recruits can supplement one-to-one learning with a programme that they complete at their own pace and can revisit at any time. It allows them faster access to the nuances and finer details of the job.

All staff have access to training programmes from day one. Continuing development courses are used to reinforce knowledge, as well as to provide a forum for them to voice their own ideas.

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Charity's

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The Fostering Network

Every staff member has a personal development plan that identifies a clear pathway to address skills, experience, knowledge or professional growth. It may include a range of learning activities, such as online training, mentoring, coaching, classroom training, shadowing, setting aside reading time, conferences and secondments.

An "e-goodie bag" filled with wellbeing activities for staff and their families, is given to everyone. It is designed for staff to take control of their mental and physical health. Included in it is expert advice and practical tips, using resources such as the NHS Choice Moodzone and Every Mind Matters websites.

Informal video conference meetings take place and "silent" video meetings allow teams to log on at the same time and work individually, but interact informally with other team members as if they were in the office.

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Consultancy

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Socitm Advisory

Days to build physical and mental wellbeing through outdoor activities are hosted at the Socitm Woodland. A Strava club encourages people to be active and there is a book club to encourage more cerebral activity. Lunch and learn sessions cover a variety of topics, including menopause support and managing during the cost-of-living crisis.

The virtual kitchen has proved popular since it was launched. It gives all staff a place to drop in, hang out and build team morale. Daily huddles and weekly retrospectives have been introduced throughout the business to ensure good communication and information sharing.

Last year, a leadership development programme was launched. It is designed to support the management team and develop them into future leaders of the business. The programme is written and delivered by leaders and blends online learning with workshops. Internal and external mentorship will support participants.

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Team Cohesion = Performance

Makara Health Communications

Hectare Agritech

University of Bolton

PebblePad

Ooni Pizza Ovens

Action Tutoring

Hilton Smythe Commercial

Daniel Owen

The Fostering Network

Socitm Advisory

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