What are companies doing with regards to 'Personal Growth'

Burgess Hodgson are a training firm in that they recruit trainee accountants on an annual basis. They believe they are the largest recruiter of trainees in Kent. This makes them unique where other firms only employ qualifieds. They firmly believe on training and promoting from within. This comes at a significant cost. Each trainee costs between £10-15,000 to qualify and they take on four or five a year. At any one time, Burgess Hodgson could have as many as 20 people training for official qualifications.

Burgress Hodgson operates an environment of 'positive' reward. Those staff deemed to have performed exceptionally and delivered service quality beyond their job role are remunerated accordingly. They also reward staff for introducing new clients. This is usually a percentage of the first year's client fees.

Brit Insurance provides an annual statement detailing a breakdown of all the benefits and compensation individuals receive. They also provide an annual performance review, annual salary review and performance related bonus.

Brit Insurance provides an annual statement detailing a breakdown of all the benefits and compensation individuals receive. They also provide an annual performance review, annual salary review and performance related bonus.

For those employees who need to work from home occasionally, laptops and blackberries are provided. The firm's policy is that everyone works in the firm's offices as members of a team, unless there is no alternative, to foster a sense of community and discourage long hours working. In this way Bristows aim to decrease the incidence of depression, isolation and anxiety. Opportunities to work flexibly are widely taken up by staff in all employee groups.

For those employees who need to work from home occasionally, laptops and blackberries are provided. The firm's policy is that everyone works in the firm's offices as members of a team, unless there is no alternative, to foster a sense of community and discourage long hours working. In this way Bristows aim to decrease the incidence of depression, isolation and anxiety. Opportunities to work flexibly are widely taken up by staff in all employee groups.

BCS LLP again were awarded the gold award again by Payroll Giving UK. They have a 22% participation level at present which is a real achievement in the current climate. They are also unique in that the Firm's charity of choice is voted on and actioned by their people and not by the Board for Business Development reasons. BCS LLP is also recognised as an expert in the charity legal sector by both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. BCS LLP also carry out a great deal of pro-bono work. BCS LLP also have charitable organisation who use their client suite offices free of charge to hold their meetings. They also carry out the administration of charitable donations for a number of their charity clients.

BCS LLP again were awarded the gold award again by Payroll Giving UK. They have a 22% participation level at present which is a real achievement in the current climate. They are also unique in that the Firm's charity of choice is voted on and actioned by their people and not by the Board for Business Development reasons. BCS LLP is also recognised as an expert in the charity legal sector by both the Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners. BCS LLP also carry out a great deal of pro-bono work. BCS LLP also have charitable organisation who use their client suite offices free of charge to hold their meetings. They also carry out the administration of charitable donations for a number of their charity clients.

A large number of training courses are on offer to help develop their people managers and they have recently launched a new mentoring programme. They have also developed a performance management policy and training to help support their managers with effective management of their teams and have introduced external coaching which has helped focus the managers on their areas for development, develop their commercial ability to run the business and also help deal with change.

Employees are encouraged to mix with other departments through team building events and celebrations. Past events have included a masquerade ball and a summer day out which was extremely successful and received great feedback from employees. The day consisted of a BBQ, tug of war, football and space hopper races.

An annual bonus system is in operation and is based upon three criteria; Innovation – business development and process improvement, Satisfaction – retention of clients and quality of relationships with peers, Financial – meeting financial targets. All employees have a “BIG boasting sheet” where they are encouraged to record their evidence under these categories throughout the year. They are also regularly rewarded on an ad hoc basis, with champagne or a meal out with their partner for service/ results/dedication above and beyond the call of duty at the directors' discretion.

An annual bonus system is in operation and is based upon three criteria; Innovation – business development and process improvement, Satisfaction – retention of clients and quality of relationships with peers, Financial – meeting financial targets. All employees have a “BIG boasting sheet” where they are encouraged to record their evidence under these categories throughout the year. They are also regularly rewarded on an ad hoc basis, with champagne or a meal out with their partner for service/ results/dedication above and beyond the call of duty at the directors' discretion.

There is an open door policy across BLP. Each year the Managing Partner hosts a strategy presentation for all staff which covers key achievements of the firm during the year, what BLP's goals are for the future and how they are going to get there. He notes key achievements across various departments and takes questions/feedback. This forum provides an opportunity for staff to ask questions. Department heads also hold lunches with fee-earners to answer any queries face-to-face and provide information of firm/department plans. The Managing Partner places great importance on cascading management information and plans to all staff as well as gathering their feedback.

Career development frameworks are in place for all staff including lawyers, secretaries and business services teams. The framework clearly sets out what individuals should be doing in their current role and what they should do to develop and gain promotion to the next level. There are broad salary bandings and individual performance determines where in the band employees sit. Exceptional merit bonuses are often awarded. The organisation work in a busy environment and reward staff for their contribution by an additional day's holiday over the Christmas period, an early finish on your birthday and time off in lieu as appropriate i.e. at the end of a deal.

Beckton, Dickinson UK recognise employees' contributions by the following; Local Awards Sales Person of the Year and Customer Representative of the Year. Associates can also recognize their colleagues instantaneously after a job well done or simply thank one another by handing out little recognition token cards called ‘Fish Cards'. These cards are available to everyone and the card giver highlights the reasons why he/she is presenting the card to the receiver. BD-UK also have a Special Achievement Recognition Award or SARA which is a programme designed to recognise associate/s that make meritorious contributions that exceed performance and service expectations.

Beckton, Dickinson UK recognise employees' contributions by the following; Local Awards Sales Person of the Year and Customer Representative of the Year. Associates can also recognize their colleagues instantaneously after a job well done or simply thank one another by handing out little recognition token cards called ‘Fish Cards'. These cards are available to everyone and the card giver highlights the reasons why he/she is presenting the card to the receiver. BD-UK also have a Special Achievement Recognition Award or SARA which is a programme designed to recognise associate/s that make meritorious contributions that exceed performance and service expectations.

This year BDP expect to have donated in the region of £41500 to charity. BDP has in place a CSR policy which sets out the way in which they feel they can best contribute to social and community programmes. They have also established the BDP Foundation, which has been set up to: - decide upon and contribute funding to firm-wide charitable donations; - select, contribute funding, and mentor educational sponsorships for BDP people, establishing follow-up and dissemination of best practice; - develop, co-ordinate, and share knowledge of BDP's educational and charitable activities; - select, contribute funding, and mentor student bursaries for non-BDP people; - project further BDP's reputation as a strongly people focussed organisation.

Aside from the intrinsic reward of working on quality architectural projects BDP's people receive monetary rewards in line with market rates that reflect their own contribution and the contribution of their part of the firm to the success of the organisation.

All employees are encouraged to submit ideas for business improvements and every idea is reviewed by the senior management team at the monthly board meeting. All ideas receive a small gift, with any implemented ideas receiving a reward through the benefits accounts. At the end of the year the best ideas can receive a cash bonus representing the impact it has had on the business, often related to ideas which have generated significant cost savings.

As part of this organisations annual personal performance review process in which all employees at all levels undertake an individual appraisal, a review is undertaken following the receipt of performance ratings to identify whether to provide Merit Awards to employees. Merit Awards are permanent uplifts to salary, and are achievable through very good or exceptional performance throughout the previous year. Any awards of this nature are considered and approved by the entire senior management team.