Best Companies Factors: Personal Growth

Pixel Inspiration

The company supports employee development through several schemes, including a paid apprenticeship programme that is open to all staff. The appraisal system is used to set and monitor individual development plans, and managers encourage open dialogue to help staff identify and achieve their professional goals.

Managers at Pixel Inspiration work closely with their teams, using regular catch-ups to set clear expectations and provide guidance. The leadership team models this behaviour by mentoring and guiding staff, creating a supportive environment where micromanagement is avoided in favour of trust and autonomy.

Regular team meetings help to maintain a cohesive company culture and provide a platform for project direction. The company's two-day in-office policy encourages communication and helps employees develop strong working relationships and a sense of belonging.

60a42a1f256bd61d04827ec8

View Company

Marketing & Media Agencies

Ascentis

Ascentis invests in employees' development through its comprehensive development programme, nurturing talent and helping employees realise their ambitions, thereby enhancing job satisfaction and career progression.

Ascentis offers competitive benefits, including up to 43 days of annual leave and a salary sacrifice pension scheme, ensuring employees feel valued and fairly compensated compared to similar organisations.

Ascentis integrates sustainability within its qualifications, supporting the development of green skills and encouraging societal contribution, reflecting its commitment to positive community impact.

View Company

No items found.

ADDO PLAY

Over the last 12 months, the organisation Barbie Day, Company Away Day with team building games, Pancake day and Games Day. All employees were gifted a Company branded t-shirt to play 'Get me Out of Here' team challenges, where they also enjoyed a BBQ, and fun awards voted for by colleagues.

ADDO Play’s Project Possibilities is a scheme that asks employees to share if they feel they can make a difference to the company outside of their role today, or want a new challenge to come forward. The aims of the scheme are to share knowledge, apply new or unutilised skills, providing opportunities to nurture ambition.

All managers at ADDO Play have access to manager focussed learning via its eLearning tool, The Entertrainer. The organisation is also rolling out Mental Health Champions training for all leaders in the business. On the job coaching from HR and workshop based sessions are also offered.

60a426c1b79a370ad882f0d2

View Company

Manufacturing

Autosmart International

All staff and their families have access to a free, confidential employee assistance programme helpline, offering advice on legal matters, finances, stress and anxiety, relationships and more. The organisation also offers free private healthcare cover, critical illness cover, and life assurance. For many roles, flexible working practices promote a healthier work/life balance.

As well as ensuring fair pay, the organisation prioritises regular feedback of when employees and teams have performed well. Walk through the company offices and you will see plenty of handwritten thank you notes from the managing director, long service awards on display, and team recognition trophies.

To encourage employee growth, Autosmart International provides a number of opportunities, including internal training, through its Autosmart Performs programme, and its cross-team projects. The skills learnt through these opportunities help its staff to develop new skills, build relationships, and support their professional growth.

60a426c1b79a370ad882f0d2

View Company

Manufacturing

Sapphire

All the senior leadership team and Directors started at the organisation from the ground up and gained an understanding over of Sapphire's values before being promoted into their current positions. The organisation aims to continue this and has people from various departments currently training to be promoted into the next available management positions.

All senior leaders have regular group and one-to-one time with performance coach Matt Fowler from Incredible Thinkers who helps to support and challenge managers to become braver, healthier, happier leaders with elite mindsets. This performance coaching has been extended to all recently promoted team leaders and supervisors.

Sapphire has signed up for Operation Christmas, which will aim to send 200 boxes of presents to children who would otherwise go without. The organisation is currently working with Zellar to review its carbon footprint and it has invested in planting trees in the UK and abroad in partnership with other green companies and suppliers.

60a414f51d04511d62d2d31d

View Company

Accountancy

The Anglican Diocese of Leeds

Placing focus on its environmental efforts, the Diocese is working hard to ensure all its properties are environmentally friendly and that the organisation reaches net zero carbon by 2030. Employees passionate about protecting the environment recently created a ‘Tree-Planting Squad’, where they work towards planting trees on diocesan land.

With a belief that employee development should go beyond annual appraisals, the Diocese encourages the pursuit of personal growth. The organisation’s appraisals process consists of a mid-year meeting with every employee, as well as an annual review to assess progress and create a personalised learning plan incorporating a variety of training programmes.

This year, the Diocese made employee wellbeing its top priority, providing staff with access to an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and a 24-hour confidential phone line to discuss any issues they are facing. The organisation’s intranet has a dedicated wellbeing section covering a variety of topics, as well as informative staff videos.

60a418018660a79f486d5619

View Company

Charity's

Unity Trust Bank

Unity Trust Bank supports personal growth by offering professional qualification support, including five paid days for professional development. Initiatives like the 'New to line management at Unity' sessions and the Leading with Empathy programme help employees advance their skills and career opportunities.

Unity Trust Bank ensures fair treatment through its profit share incentive scheme, which paid out 9% of base salary in 2024, and by being the first UK bank to pay the Real Living Wage, demonstrating its commitment to equitable employee compensation.

With a focus on wellbeing, Unity Trust Bank offers activities like mindfulness sessions and health awareness campaigns through its Unity & Me programme. The bank has increased its number of Mental Health First Aiders, promoting a supportive environment for mental health.

60a41fa8df49eb26ff02d8a0

View Company

Financial Services

NATS

All employees can undertake mental health awareness training, and staff and their families can access help – including legal and financial – through the Employee Assistance Programme. ‘Myth Busters’ have been published on topics like domestic abuse, often linked to a colleague sharing their story. There are also wellbeing talks and monthly ‘desk yoga.'

All staff are on the digital learning portal giving them access to content, events and training and helping them create development plans. There are also open sessions throughout the year on topics including ‘unconscious bias’ and ‘building resilience’. And staff can undertake technical training or academic study and learn from internal coaches and mentors.

In the past year, employees have donated more than £200,000 to causes they care about through the Payroll Giving Scheme. And NATS also supports two corporate charities – the Jon Egging Trust (JET), by offering young people communication and leadership workshops and Aerobility, which gives disabled people the chance to fly a plane.

60a4179e3738664af4aa4d2c

View Company

Business Services

Keech Hospice

Placing a focus on personal growth, Keech Hospice care offer a wide range of development opportunities and regular training. As well as mandatory training the organisation also runs internal and external courses, as well as providing regular opportunities for staff to discuss their personal development needs.

Staff can look forward to fresh hot meals, sandwiches and snacks, thanks to Keech Hospice Care's excellent on-site catering facilities. Employee benefits also include a competitive salary with increments based on performance and training, as well as contribution pension scheme, childcare vouchers and free parking.

The hospice understands just how important it is to look after the mental wellbeing of its staff, and therefore has a dedicated support programme and an employee assistance programme which provides practical information, resources and confidential counselling to all staff and their families.

60a418018660a79f486d5619

View Company

Charity's

Fundamentals Ltd

There are weekly safety updates on a variety of topics, and mental health and wellbeing often feature. Tips to improve wellbeing, whether through exercise, understanding the importance of nutrition and hydration or better sleep habits, are included.

At weekly team meetings, leaders make sure there is time to recognise and acknowledge nominations for staff who champion the company's values and that those values remain at the top of people's agendas. In their own work they strive to demonstrate the values daily and model the behaviour expected of all staff.

The company offers an apprenticeship scheme and some of the earliest participants are now involved in the business at management level. Newer apprentices are keen spokespeople for the company at careers events. Fundamentals is also an enterprise partner of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and supports employees towards professional membership, financially and practically.

60a4311ae17897300a2a0dde

View Company

Utilities

Growth Fuels Engagement

Pixel Inspiration

Ascentis

ADDO PLAY

Autosmart International

Sapphire

The Anglican Diocese of Leeds

Unity Trust Bank

NATS

Keech Hospice

Fundamentals Ltd

Understand your organisational health across all eight factors

Why measure with Best Companies?