Teams have been holding meetings, one-to-ones, quizzes and celebrations over MS Teams. Using the broadcast feature, the new CEO held a meet and greet with all employees. Over 100 colleagues participated in the organisation’s live Q&A, reflecting how engaged its people are. It received extremely positive feedback and Target Group has held more since.

Current and aspiring leaders are supported by Target Group through access to: Leadership Management Development and Performance Modules, which cover leadership soft skills, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills; High Potential Programmes, set over a 9-month period; and external qualifications through the organisation’s access to courses from The Institute of Leadership & Management.

Outside regular team meetings, the company is keen to ensure that no one feels isolated and that the spirit of One Meridian is maintained, as it is a geographically diverse business. As a result, several unofficial groups from across the business have allowed teams to interact in a fun and less formal way.

Ensuring staff wellbeing has always been a key priority, and a host of initiatives are in place to support this. In 2019, their Mental Health Awareness programme was launched, this has had a tangible impact on its culture and contributed to making it the open and supportive environment which it is today.

Employees working from home can expect regular check-ins to ensure they're working within their contracted hours and not using home working to manage their sickness. There are also open discussions on workplace loneliness, and celebrations always include remote workers, whether lunch allowances or virtual quizzes.

HiB supports charitable and community initiatives through its community panel. It uses its annual budget for various initiatives, from providing fencing and gates to boost security at a Warwickshire recreation ground to sponsoring kits for local sports teams. And it's provided complimentary products for homeless accommodation in Birmingham.

East Coast College have produced pulse surveys with action plans based on the responses to provide a better workplace for its employees. It has further implemented a suggestions and feedback form on the intranet which is reviewed by Management termly, and the CEO conducts listening groups each term with groups of staff.

All managers have the opportunity to participate in the management degree apprenticeship run by the college in conjunction with University of Suffolk. The college also runs Mental Health First Aid training each term for all staff and Emotional Awareness training for managers, teaching wellbeing intervention support.

Every team member can nominate colleagues who’ve gone the extra mile through the EW Allstars reward and recognition programme. It celebrates staff in four categories – 'Be Great', 'Be Amazing', 'Be Extraordinary' and 'Be Kind'. On ambassador approval, the nominees get money in their prize fund to spend with a host of retailers.

The ‘Yellow Dip’ induction (reflecting the uniform colour) includes the company history, mission, vision and values and a ‘walk and spot’ around the park. All new starters get a bespoke four-week plan, a ‘buddy’ to ease them in and branded items to make their lives easier, including water bottles and keyrings.

Charles Tyrwhitt has implemented many sustainable measures to reduce its environmental impact, such as eco lightbulbs, making its brochures fully recyclable, and has offset its remaining emissions, making the business carbon neutral for the first time. It has also incorporated a "Plastic action group" who have reduced the amount of plastic used in its packaging.

Devoted to supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of its colleagues, Charles Tyrwhitt has a number of trained Mental Health First Aiders who are on hand to help and direct colleagues who find themselves in a difficult time. Providing personal support and multiple resources online means that everyone has access to the help they need.

Warner’s introduced “change agents” to ensure that actions based on feedback from staff were implemented. One team member from every area of the business was enlisted and progress was shared at monthly town-hall meetings. Another new initiative is giving paid half-days off to staff to give something back to the community.

The company focuses on positive biodiversity impacts in line with its "nature positive" mission. Initiatives include Operation Honeybee, a campaign launched with its Honeybee gin that aims to educate and engage stakeholders to join the company in finding ways of alleviating some of the pressures facing pollinators.

The agency’s values are fundamental to every activity. One of the key ones, “to leave the world in a better place than we found it,” can be seen in the Christmas party planning, where meals were donated to Crisis for every company one purchased. Agency profits have also supported a school build in Ethiopia.

The company takes a flexible, hybrid approach to office and home working. At the same time, it also recognises that more junior team members learn best from physically being around those with greater skills. As a result, staff at Account Manager level or below generally spend four days a week in the office.

New starters get an induction session and ‘welcome box’ related to their new role, including a notepad, gloves, travel mug… and a sweet treat! They also get a buddy to support them while learning their new position. There are also plans for an ‘onboarding’ portal, bringing together helpful documents and FAQs.

Jigsaw Homes Group aims to be carbon neutral by 2050 through its ‘Be Zero’ sustainability plan. It has a sustainability coordinator who will deliver training to all employees during 2023 on how to be more environmentally responsible, such as through carbon literacy training, so they can channel this into their roles.

The agency's helping its employees through the cost-of-living crisis. There've been special salary increases for more than half of staff, and a senior manager-donated 'Energy Fund' offering a one-off, interest-free emergency loan to help with bills. There's also been a 'Talk Money' week with advice sessions, and staff have access to a free-of-charge financial advisor.

The Enterprise scheme helps developing companies – often championing good causes – grow by volunteering expertise, helping them build a website, mentoring or leading workshops. The agency also chooses an annual charity to support with time, resources and cash. And its community team keeps its ear to the ground for local causes in need.