My Manager
Personal Growth

Growth Fuels Engagement

Investing in development boosts retention and shows employees they're valued. When employees grow, your organisation thrives.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Worcestershire County Council

Particular work this year has been on the carbon footprint of staff travel. All under desk bins are removed and replaced by recycling centres. Also a "Not In The Bin" scheme to recycle unwanted equipment is in place. They have been running a sustainability training course for all staff for over ten years. This not only addresses specifics but also deals with the broader context so people really understand the issues.

Particular work this year has been on the carbon footprint of staff travel. All under desk bins are removed and replaced by recycling centres. Also a "Not In The Bin" scheme to recycle unwanted equipment is in place. They have been running a sustainability training course for all staff for over ten years. This not only addresses specifics but also deals with the broader context so people really understand the issues.

Staff are involved in regular events held by the Chief Executive. There is also a rolling piece on the front page of the intranet and a rolling Chief Exec notice board on which staff can comment. She operates in an open and honest style, not only giving direction but explaining why that is the direction and is as open and honest with bad news as with good. She demonstrates that she really cares about the organisation's mission and is seen to be a member of the team, sleeves rolled up delivering.

View Company
No items found.

Warrington Borough Council

The organisation holds a ‘Going the Extra Mile' award each month and annual staff achievements awards ceremonies. Employees have access to a comprehensive total reward package which includes a robust pay and grading system, flexible working packages, health and well being initiatives and local supplier discounts. Staff also receive discounted travel via Warrington Borough Transport.

The organisation holds a ‘Going the Extra Mile' award each month and annual staff achievements awards ceremonies. Employees have access to a comprehensive total reward package which includes a robust pay and grading system, flexible working packages, health and well being initiatives and local supplier discounts. Staff also receive discounted travel via Warrington Borough Transport.

Warrington recently hosted the English Half Marathon which captured the interest of a number of employees who were able to enter at a discounted rate. There are monthly competitions for staff to undertake with tickets for shows and meals in local restaurants as prizes. The organisation holds an annual staff achievement award programme. This is about service away days where service groups come together away from the workplace to focus partly on the needs of the business and significantly on interaction with each other at work and service priorities.

View Company
No items found.

Training 2000

Staff awards are held for customer service, learner of the year, employee of the year and the organisation also have an environmental award. The organisation also has dashboards and share point as corporate communications. Leadership training and development is in place and covers, grievance policy, equality statement, equality and diversity training and dignity at work policy.

The company offer continuous professional development, teaching qualifications, industry specific qualifications, professional charterships and working groups. Teams are involved in projects and the organisation have talent management, people strategy and succession planning.

Staff awards are held for customer service, learner of the year, employee of the year and the organisation also have an environmental award. The organisation also has dashboards and share point as corporate communications. Leadership training and development is in place and covers, grievance policy, equality statement, equality and diversity training and dignity at work policy.

View Company
No items found.

The Leadership Trust

The Leadership Trust is a charity. All profits they make are distributed in grants and bursaries to other voluntary organisations in order to further their leadership development. Since starting their grants and bursaries scheme they have donated in excess of £3.4M.

Employees serious about losing weight are offered moral support. Time off is supported if an employee feels this is appropriate for managing stress, otherwise managers are encouraged to offer support on an ongoing basis. It is recognised that this is a real issue for some employees and time off/support from manager is provided. They provide a fully equipped fitness centre with new equipment that is available to staff to use any time outside working hours as long as the site is open, free of charge.

Employees serious about losing weight are offered moral support. Time off is supported if an employee feels this is appropriate for managing stress, otherwise managers are encouraged to offer support on an ongoing basis. It is recognised that this is a real issue for some employees and time off/support from manager is provided. They provide a fully equipped fitness centre with new equipment that is available to staff to use any time outside working hours as long as the site is open, free of charge.

View Company
No items found.

The Blackpool Sixth Form College

The organisation hold a formal Christmas event for all staff to attend. They also have regular gatherings including visits to the races. They hold an annual awards event and nominations are made by staff, the winners are decided by a panel of judges. The staff social committee receive a budget of £2000 per year to organise events.

External courses are provided to employees. The organisation also offers internal staff development where staff can pick and mix their programme. Teaching staff are supported in completing a PGCE and given teaching sessions to allow them to complete this successfully. Other qualifications have been supported where staff have been given time off site to attend college or a training venue. The college will also pay a contribution to course fees.

The organisation hold a formal Christmas event for all staff to attend. They also have regular gatherings including visits to the races. They hold an annual awards event and nominations are made by staff, the winners are decided by a panel of judges. The staff social committee receive a budget of £2000 per year to organise events.

View Company
No items found.

Sussex Oakleaf Housing Association

Some training activities that Sussex Oakleaf's employees might undertake are Corporate Induction Days, Learning about Recovery, Professionalism and Self Awareness, Mental Health Awareness, Train the Trainer, Cultural Awareness, Risk Assessment, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults, Child Protection, Motivational Interviewing, Managing Difficult and Aggressive Behaviours, Managing Absence, Lone Working, First Aid, Food & Mood, Basic Drug Awareness, Alcohol Awareness, Prevention of Homelessness, The Management LEADER Programme and IT clinics. Formal qualifications can be part-funded by the organisation if identified and agreed through 1:1s/annual appraisal with line manager. Paid time off for study is also available, if agreed with line manager. In house training can also provide qualifications (NOCN/NVQ) e.g. LEAD programme, Peer Support, Train the Trainer.

The Leader is open and honest, very approachable and informal, feeds back to people, openly recognises good ideas/suggestions, doesn't dismiss the less good ideas/suggestions, gets involved, creating a culture of engagement - bottom up approach.

Some training activities that Sussex Oakleaf's employees might undertake are Corporate Induction Days, Learning about Recovery, Professionalism and Self Awareness, Mental Health Awareness, Train the Trainer, Cultural Awareness, Risk Assessment, Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults, Child Protection, Motivational Interviewing, Managing Difficult and Aggressive Behaviours, Managing Absence, Lone Working, First Aid, Food & Mood, Basic Drug Awareness, Alcohol Awareness, Prevention of Homelessness, The Management LEADER Programme and IT clinics. Formal qualifications can be part-funded by the organisation if identified and agreed through 1:1s/annual appraisal with line manager. Paid time off for study is also available, if agreed with line manager. In house training can also provide qualifications (NOCN/NVQ) e.g. LEAD programme, Peer Support, Train the Trainer.

View Company
No items found.

St Mary's School (Colchester) Limited

Flowers and recognition are given to staff after 25 years of service. Champagne is given to employees for naming "Spotlight". The organisation hold regular staff meetings to discuss issues and ideas. The organisation are involved with Investors in People and offer counselling for staff. They also have an open door policy of SLT.

The organisation hold charity race evenings, cross country runs, dog walks, cakes sales, and talent shows. Horses for Heroes/Help for Heroes are charity's that the organisation support. Often charity's are chosen in relation to specific members of staff, therefore are more personal. Students monitor use of electricity and water and also monitor the amount of recycling that the school undertakes. Paper, clothes, shoes, toner cartridges, pens, mobile phones, jewellery, plastic, glass and cans are recycled. They have also recently installed solar panels when upgrading the heating system, they are the only school in the area to have achieved two green flag awards.

Flowers and recognition are given to staff after 25 years of service. Champagne is given to employees for naming "Spotlight". The organisation hold regular staff meetings to discuss issues and ideas. The organisation are involved with Investors in People and offer counselling for staff. They also have an open door policy of SLT.

View Company
No items found.

Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

The people directorate undertake a 'Team of the month' award. Any officer can nominate a team within their directorate for actions above and beyond what would normally be expected. This can include targets achieved much earlier than planned and teams pulling together. All nominations are discussed at a divisional leadership team meeting and nominees are notified of the result. The award is £50 which is transferred to a nominated cost centre and a certificate which is framed and presented by the Director for People or the relevant Service Director.

The organisation have an eye test scheme where they contribute to the cost of an eye test and also glasses if they are required for use with visual display equipment. They also operate a Vectis benefits scheme for staff which offers them discounts in a variety of locations and activities. Staff are contacted regularly by Vecits with their latest range of special offers. They are an accredited Investors In People Organisation which recognises individual contribution to the organisations success. They have a flexible working scheme, a final salary pension scheme, a sickness absence scheme and a flexi-time scheme.

As part of their wellbeing programme, which will be launched shortly there is also a facility for employees to complete an on-line healthy living questionnaire survey and this will signpost employees to where they can make improvements in their lifestyle. Employees are able to obtain reduced membership rates at gyms, both private clubs and the Council's two leisure centres. Employees are able to work flexi-time and where appropriate, work from home. There is an employee assistance programme in which employees have access to a 24/7 telephone counselling service. Face to face counselling will also provided where necessary.

View Company
No items found.

Queen Alexandra College

QAC have taken a strategic approach to encourage an open culture and enthuse staff to bring forward information and ideas to take the college further forward. For example, an invitation was sent to all staff to send in a personal statement as to why they should be chosen to go to the AOC Conference of the year. There is an open door policy with no appointments required.

QAC have taken a strategic approach to encourage an open culture and enthuse staff to bring forward information and ideas to take the college further forward. For example, an invitation was sent to all staff to send in a personal statement as to why they should be chosen to go to the AOC Conference of the year. There is an open door policy with no appointments required.

QAC have taken a strategic approach to encourage an open culture and enthuse staff to bring forward information and ideas to take the college further forward. For example, an invitation was sent to all staff to send in a personal statement as to why they should be chosen to go to the AOC Conference of the year. There is an open door policy with no appointments required.

View Company
No items found.

North East Surrey College of Technology

The Leader will let staff know at the earliest opportunity about issues that may affect the college moving forward and which could potentially affect their jobs. Although they are facing budgetary restraints she has ensured that staff have received a non-consolidated bonus as recognition for their contribution, while we cannot afford a pay rise generally applied to wages. She has involved all staff in their recent Ofsted Inspection success and ensured they were all equally recognised for their support.

The College employed an in-house management development consultant for two years to support managers, SMT and some team development. Managers identify support networks to join in and the College is a member of a college peer review group and support each other in the group. HR provides regular in house training on policies and managers' role in them.

There is a staff Christmas party and Oscar ceremony with part employee contribution and summer staff barbeque also part contribution.

View Company
No items found.

Understand your organisational health across all eight factors

You’ve explored the Factors - now discover how your organisation can gain deeper insight into what truly drives engagement and workplace culture.

Our approach measures organisational health across eight core areas: My Team, Leadership, My Manager, Personal Growth, My Company, Wellbeing, Fair Deal, and Giving Something Back. Together, they give you a complete view of how your people think, feel, and experience work.

Why measure with Best Companies?

Get clarity across the eight factors that shape organisational health
Use trusted insight developed over 25 years
Identify strengths and uncover opportunities for meaningful improvement


Complete the form and take the first step toward a stronger, more engaged organisation.