Personal Growth

Graphnet Health

There is no shortage of opportunities to get together and talk work or otherwise. These include twice-yearly company events to share business updates and strategy plans, team away days, virtual lunch breaks, workshop sessions and social outings. Many have looked to build on the camaraderie created by virtual sessions, like 'Friday Night Drinks,' during lockdown.

A monthly company-wide recognition incentive, 'Cheera,' lets employees nominate colleagues for exemplary work they've done to benefit customers, their colleagues or the wider community. A winning name is pulled from a hat, with the employee giving their £500 to a charity of their choice.

In the past 12 months, 95% of employees have completed some work-relating training. Through the Enterprise Initiative Scheme, the company partners with Microsoft, giving staff access to industry-leading accreditations and learning pathways. The company covers the cost of work-related training and offers five days of paid study leave.

60a43081c04f23c7f7bd65d5

View Company

Technology

ENSEK

A new post of internal communications manager has transformed how the company communicates with its employees and how effective it is. Supported by a team of culture champions, ENSEK has also ensured that people across all parts of the business, in all locations, understand its purpose, mission and values.

The company recognises that staff are often best placed to find enthusiastic recruits and offers generous referral payments ranging from £350 to £1200. In 2021, all employees sharing social media posts with #engineeryourcareerwithENSEK had the chance to win a tech package. Currently, more than 25 per cent of employees come recommended by a colleague.

Revised job descriptions aim to help people better understand their roles and what positions to set their sights on. Career frameworks are also being rolled out to support quarterly performance reviews. Engineering Days or UK Operations Days see whole departments come into the office for learning and team building.

60a43081c04f23c7f7bd65d5

View Company

Technology

Energize Group

Energize continued to hire in 2020 and also ran five new starter programmes, two advanced courses, two senior leadership programmes and two future leader programmes. Other development opportunities included a mental health first aid course, external sales training, webinars and new modules such as creating a positive mindset.

To maintain high levels of morale, Energize organised virtual social events including quizzes, awards and the annual charity auction. A focus on fitness led to activities including the Energize Olympics, virtual yoga sessions, Wellbeing Wednesday and a company-wide activity based charity fundraising challenge.

In 2020 Energize partnered with Reach Out Mentoring, a charity that gives young people from disadvantaged backgrounds weekly 1-2-1 support from a volunteer mentor. In addition to committing to providing volunteers the firm also raised almost £7,000 through a range of fundraising activities.

60a42fee82899d978c972840

View Company

Recruitment

Cyber-Duck

Cyber-Duck supports Goods for Good, a Hertfordshire charity that sends goods donated by businesses and individuals to vulnerable communities around the world. Its services have been needed more than ever, in Afghanistan and Ukraine, and Cyber-Duck donated technology and set up digital platforms for the charity. Staff also helped with packing goods and ran fundraisers.

Staff can meet up at the Duck and Crisp virtual pub and there's space for team chat during quizzes. Leaders run weekly team meetings to share project status, trends, techniques and have a catch-up. A Meeting Owl camera swivels around to film meetings and bridge the gap between staff at home and in the office.

The company is developing Cyber-Duck Academies, in both of the open-source technologies it specialises in, Laravel and Drupal. Research and development time is set aside during working hours to give the company's developers cutting-edge, challenging work and community recognition.

60a42a1f256bd61d04827ec8

View Company

Marketing & Media Agencies

Clarasys

An online peer reward system allows employees to recognise and reward each other with a monetary prize. This is scaled from a small amount for a thank you to a larger one for exceptional work. Each award has to correspond with one of the company’s values.

A new online learning platform lets employees take control of their own development. It allows them to learn anytime, anywhere with access to courses and other materials. On top of a £100 a year personal learning allowance, consultants can access more funding to achieve their specific career goals.

The company aims for 1000 volunteer days a year, with staff choosing how many they would like to do. Graduate training includes pro bono work for the business’s charities. All employees are encouraged to use their work-related skills in the help they offer.

60a41c4f644574dd25c3c50d

View Company

Consultancy

Circus Street

Circus Street’s leading mental health, fitness, and nutrition tools provide a holistic approach to the wellbeing of colleagues. Employees can visit an in-house nutritionist, attend workshops on sleep and diet, or join workout sessions including boxing and yoga. They also have access to private health insurance.

Keeping colleagues informed and energised is a priority. Coupled with a Circus Street newsletter, employees attend quarterly town hall gatherings, where the leadership team provides performance updates, as well as discussing exciting projects and team news.

Colleagues enjoy six days per year dedicated to their personal development, ensuring their skills keep ahead of the ever-changing digital curve. As part of this initiative, they benefit from access to external mentors, as well as having the opportunity to discuss career progression goals at focus groups.

60a41f33bff4d44624012073

View Company

Education & Training

Sustainable Energy First

The company's "balance time" policy is a flexible working model that allows staff to balance their hours over a month, rather than having core hours. It allows people to rest, take time out with family or to exercise, and regain balance in their lives. Hours worked overtime can be used to take time off.

During a learning and development survey this year, staff asked for training in the energy industry and technical knowledge. They also wanted help with personal skills, including confidence, assertiveness and emotional intelligence. The company responded by running its first group coaching programme with an external partner.

Free breakfast, refreshment supplies, bike storage and changing facilities, pizza Fridays, a recreation floor and staff library, make Sustainable Energy First an outstanding place to work, the company says. Staff respond by looking after clients and the community with the same care for their wellbeing.

60a41c4f644574dd25c3c50d

View Company

Consultancy

Aspire

Locally-based employees get free membership to the leisure centre. Those further afield are offered a Zoom membership where they can take part in more than 30 fitness classes a week. Staff also get access to wellbeing awareness webinars on topics such as mental health and menopause.

All staff are in the running for colleague-nominated employee and team of the month awards. Individual winners get a voucher and the chance to go on to win employee of the year at the annual awards. These also include other accolades such as top fundraiser and volunteer of the year.

Employees are encouraged to discuss their development and training needs with their line manager at each annual performance review. These may include training to be a lifeguard, swimming teacher or gym instructor under the apprentice leisure assistant programme or executive development training for more senior staff.

60a418018660a79f486d5619

View Company

Charity's

AND Digital

ANDis are given 15 extra days of paid leave. Two are for volunteering for anything that an ANDi chooses to support, 13 are "upskilling and innovation" days. Staff can participate in formal courses or do something more informal, such as catching up on reading or carrying out another activity to increase their skills.

Agile ways of working are designed to foster effective collaboration and communication. Through daily stand-up meetings, regular planning, reviews and retrospectives, teams create an appropriate rhythm for themselves to be able to problem-solve collaboratively and achieve quality results.

An incentive share plan provides the opportunity for ANDis to own a part of the company and see a growing reward for participating in its expansion. Unusually in the industry, the scheme gives "growth shares" to ANDis at all levels, not just those near the top.

60a43081c04f23c7f7bd65d5

View Company

Technology

Willmott Dixon

Seventy-five per cent of employees are making lifestyle changes based on their results from a free annual workplace-based health check. Common themes that have emerged across the workforce have led to the company starting a monthly walking group and giving staff water bottles to encourage them to drink more.

As a thank you for hard work and loyalty, staff can access a £750 Personal Learning Fund after five years of service. They can spend it on learning a new skill, such as language and photography classes or other support. This could include fitness training or NCT classes to prepare them for a new baby.

The company’s Women’s Leadership programme, which includes mentoring and a course at Cambridge University, aims to create a pipeline of 150 female leaders in Willmott Dixon and its supply chain over the next 10 years. More than 30 women have benefitted so far, with more than half being promoted to senior leadership positions.

60a41a5c276eef885ef39cd9

View Company

Construction & Engineering

Growth Fuels Engagement

Graphnet Health

ENSEK

Energize Group

Cyber-Duck

Clarasys

Circus Street

Sustainable Energy First

Aspire

AND Digital

Willmott Dixon

Understand your organisational health across all eight factors

Why measure with Best Companies?