My Manager
Personal Growth

Growth Fuels Engagement

Investing in development boosts retention and shows employees they're valued. When employees grow, your organisation thrives.
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Barnwood Trust

Employees can access face-to-face counselling or mental health support through the charity’s Employee Assistance Programme, and there are always trained mental health first aiders on hand. Staff can decide when to begin their working day, allowing for caring or childcare needs and, depending on role, opportunities to split time between home, office and the community.
Barnwood Trust doesn't want anybody to be disadvantaged in the recruitment process. A variety of application methods are available which makes the recruitment process more accessible for disabled people and people with mental health conditions. For example, applicants can submit video or audio content as part of their application and receive helpful information in advance.
The whole team has a learning plan to underpin the goals of the Trust, including a wide range of disability, mental health awareness and neurodiversity training. Skills, such as emotional intelligence and managing difficult conversations, are also key to underpinning their work. And all employees have access to a personal development plan.
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Charity's

Twenty7tec

Staff received a special cost-of-living bonus, with those on the smallest salaries getting the most. Employees have also been given early access to a proportion of their performance-related bonus and can now get an advance of up to 50% of their accrued salary every month, interest-free. This access comes with financial coaching and tools.

Senior managers are encouraged to use twenty7tec's internal comms platform to publicly 'shout out' employees who've done something outstanding – linking the 'thank you' to one of the company's values. Staff can also highlight their colleagues' good work, and everyone can 'like' or interact with the feedback.

Everyone has a personal development plan that's reviewed each quarter with their line manager and supported by the Head of People. Growth opportunities include internal and external mentoring, 15 hours of paid personal development or study time, paid-for memberships and subscriptions, and access to an 'anytime, anywhere' online training platform.

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Technology

Hilltop

During the organisation’s Annual Conference, employees have the opportunity to celebrate everything Hilltop. The Managing Director shares results from the last year and launches the One Page Business Plan, providing insight into where every colleague fits into the plan going forward. Food and drink is provided in a local venue afterwards.
Hilltop provides its employees the opportunity to grow through Personal Development Plans, internal and online training, and government supported schemes (including IOSHH, HACCP, BFCGS, and ILM). Over 150 external courses have been completed by Hilltop colleagues in the past year, increasing retention, engagement, and facilitating over 20 internal promotions.
Hilltop has four foundational elements to its manager development: appraisals and coaching from an internal mentor; learner led training; external training, which can be half-day sessions or government funded, longer courses; and a HR led wellbeing programme, that includes regular catch-ups to make sure the manager feels happy and supported.
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Food & Drink

The Oakland Group

Oakland has a dedicated menopause support policy available. For managers, recognising the symptoms of the menopause is vital to treating an affected employee fairly. This policy includes installing a water cooler, providing desk fans, making rooms for rest available, allowing for more frequent breaks, quiet working spaces, and extended deadlines.

It has recently introduced personal learning budgets for its teams. This provides each employee with a £400 individual learning budget that they can choose to spend on the learning intervention that best meets their development plan. Additionally it offers internal workshops when there is a requirement for tailored training.

As part of its Oakland Gives Back scheme, it matches the amount raised for any employee taking part in charity fundraising. If at the end of the financial year the amount allocated to good causes has not been spent it asks employees to nominate small local charities close to their heart.

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Consultancy

Parogon Group

New starters take part in Parogon Best Starts which focuses on the initial induction and welcome to the company. This continues on to upskilling workshops around key focus areas that are delivered through the Skills Trainers and Restaurant People Development Partner. Employees looking for manager training can then enrol in the Parogon Academy.
Parogon Group’s Leadership Development programme concentrates on how to deal with all elements of the day to day running of the business. It teaches over a full four day programme that has been tailored into a bespoke system covering the four key areas it believes are essential to achieving success: Clarity, Competence, Compliance, and Control.
Everyone at all levels of Parogon Group has an open communication approach to each other. Managing Director, Rich Colclough regularly updates the organisation with videos on important business decisions and various activities happening across departments.
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Leisure & Hospitality

HLM Architects

All managers have received mental health training and stress management training, enabling them to recognise the signs of stress and burnout. This additional level of support recognises that managers may require extra support for their teams and guidance on how to manage difficult conversations, while giving employees the opportunity to have confidential and supportive conversations.
The organisation holds social events, quizzes, drawing classes, dinners, desk yoga, netwalking, and inclusive-tea breaks and it has hosted family events including colouring competitions, shed building, and garden design. It has also introduced Walk Out Wednesdays where employees leave their desks and go on a walk together.
The HLM Academy is designed to enhance progression through a variety of channels to suit different learning preferences. All employees are enrolled from day one. The Academy is uses two frameworks. The Skills framework outlines emotional and technical skills needed. The Behaviour framework sets out core behaviours and how colleagues should engage with each other.
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Architect & Surveyor

Hastings Direct

Hastings Direct offers its employees a range of wellbeing initiatives, including a Colleague Assistance Programme, an in-house therapy app, Smart Health GP services, Menopause cafes, a Hardship Fund, and men’s talking and listening clubs partnering with The Talk Club. It also has 55 Mental Health First Aiders and 75 Wellbeing Champions.
The organisation supports colleagues personal growth whether their choice is to develop in role, progress into other roles in the team, or change ‘career’ within Hastings. It does this by offering employees the opportunity to enrol in professional programmes, apprenticeships, graduate schemes, and internal and external mentoring to on-the-job?training
Hastings Direct has different levels of leadership development, including Operational Leadership Excellence (OLE) – a 12–18-month leadership programme that is focused on building skills, knowledge and confidence to better coach customer facing teams. It also offers Leading 4 Growth – a module-based programme aimed at senior leaders and keeping the group aligned to company strategy.
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Insurance

Croudace Homes

Croudace Homes shows a strong commitment to employee development, with over 10% of its workforce participating in structured training for three consecutive years. The company is a Platinum-accredited member of the 5% Club and was recognised by JobCrowd for its apprentice and graduate programmes.
Managers are identified through succession planning programmes and are provided with compulsory formal management training and leadership training for future leaders. There is also an in-house training programme that covers broader management activities like interviews and PDRs.
Senior leaders at Croudace Homes are instrumental in fostering a positive culture by consistently modelling organisational values and communicating them regularly through staff conferences, newsletters, and meetings. They also embed these values into key policies and PDRs, recognising employees who exemplify them.
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Housing Associations

Circle Health Group

The Big Circle Move initiative was launched in support of physical health. 725 members of staff participated in a 30-day active challenge of moving for 30 minutes every day in May. A total of 40,730 miles of activity was completed and three winners received an Apple Watch in recognition of looking after their physical health.

The organisation’s values and principles are Respect, Compassion, Selflessness, Support, Agility, Bravery, Collaboration, and Commitment. The leadership team live these values and principles every day, setting an example for the staff. Every employee was invited to have candid and direct conversations with the COO about the business

The organisation has created a dedicated career development hub which enables employees to map out their professional careers within the organisation, regardless of role. Circle Health Group believes in growing and developing talent from within and there are numerous clinical and non-clinical opportunities available.

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Health & Social Care

Impact Futures

The organisation's commitment to employee growth is evident in its strategic development plan and career framework. This includes a structured qualification delivery programme during onboarding and a management development programme that equips leaders to have career conversations and help their teams unlock their potential.
Managers at Impact Futures are empowered through a dedicated management development programme. This programme provides training on coaching skills and encourages a consistent approach to leadership. The focus is on inspiring and engaging teams by getting to know individuals, creating a supportive and inclusive environment where everyone feels heard.
Impact Futures recognises the importance of team cohesion, especially for its remote and hybrid workforce. They strengthen team relationships through a variety of initiatives, including roadshows, 'Dragons Den' pitching experiences, and social events like quiz nights, creating fun and interactive opportunities for colleagues to connect.
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Education & Training

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?

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