Personal Growth

YMCA Together

Each service organises regular treat days which could consist of bringing in food for staff to eat together, or organising a therapist to give staff wellbeing treatments.

The Y Leadership management programme covers organisational development, human resources, finance and budget management, health and safety, and looking at environmental impact and marketing. There are in-house courses about working in a psychologically informed environment.

A memorial garden has been set up at YMCA Together's Dutch Farm, in Liverpool, for those who have died in homelessness or homeless services. It has been welcomed by friends and family of those who have lost their lives, often at an age well below the average life span.

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Charity's

Octopus Energy Group

A steel drum band was invited into the London office for a Rum and Drums night. The Brighton office has a Pride party before taking to the streets for the parade and, in Leicester, an annual Christmas Lights party celebrates Octopus being part of the city "switch-on" celebration.

Staff can move around the business. This has led to someone who started in customer service as a graduate going on to lead the launch of the customer service in Texas, a smart-meter specialist consulting as an ecologist for tree-planting schemes and a billing specialist heading its green marketing strategy.

If team members want to raise an issue they can approach any one of the senior management team directly, including the chief executive. An important aspect of the company's culture is that it is open, transparent and accessible, so that anyone can speak up if they have problems or ideas they would like to discuss.

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Utilities

Ashtons

In an annual campaign called "For life's great causes", the agency works with about 20 local charities. It promotes their work through its website, offices and social media and asks staff and the public to vote for the charity they want to receive cash. A £10,000 donation is divided between the three winners.

The Ashtons Diploma develops entry-level staff, giving them a year's training that incorporates spending time in every area of the business. The company supports industry-recognised training, such as that of the National Association of Estate Agents, encouraging all employees to undertake the courses and gain qualifications.

In an industry where staff traditionally work long hours, the agency has reduced working hours and weekend working for staff, without it affecting pay. It resulted in employees gaining an extra 12 days off a year.

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Property

Proxima

The charity and wellbeing committees often join together to create events, such as the Wellness Fortnight in July, when everyone was encouraged to join in wellbeing initiatives, such as a "lunch and learn" on the benefits of physical exercise, a company-wide "plank" challenge or a 24-hour team charity row.

Chief executive Gareth Evans and the board have daily leadership meetings to ensure there is clarity between them. From these daily meetings, there are regular video updates from Gareth that are posted on our company’s Workplace platform so staff can watch these video updates at a time that works best for them.

The X Fund is run by a committee of six employees, who manage a budget for non-essential training needs. Throughout the year, staff can submit applications to the X Fund to request funding. Paid study leave is given to attend the course.

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Consultancy

networx

The wellbeing of employees has remained a priority for Networx, with daily fitness sessions continuing to take place both online and in the company gym. The organisation also has a direct partnership with Leeds Mind to ensure that any person that requires help can access this as and when then need to.

Networx continues to actively support each employee to try and schedule some time every week for Continued Professional Development (CDP). This has proved extremely beneficial for the Developers who through the time allocated to them have identified new technologies and growth opportunities.. Further more leaders have been encouraging the enrolment of new courses for employees.

Doing their bit for the community, the organisation has participated in many charitable events and fundraisers in 2021, such as Hatty Xmas - A fundraising event run by Break Charity where all employees were encouraged to wear a silly or festive hat and donate and a virtual Macmillan coffee morning.

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Technology

Exposure Ninja

In 2021, most of the management team took an MBA-level course through Nottingham Trent University. The course included modules on women in leadership and effective change management.

A formalised personal development plan process aims to encourage the team to complete a self-reflection exercise before their PDP discussions. Through the employee assistance programme, employees can discuss their career anonymously with a third party who will support them with their ambitions and offer advice.

Last year, the company introduced 20 hours' paid volunteering time a year for each staff member. They can use if for a charity or social enterprise of their choice, or to volunteer for Exposure Ninja’s digital marketing mentoring programme and/or charity event.

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Marketing & Media Agencies

Golden Lane Housing

Recognised as a Mental Health Confident Employer by the Workplace Mental Health Charter CIC, colleagues are given access to the Mental Health Hub app featuring mindfulness sessions, CBT, Audio meditation, and emergency contact numbers. Mental Health Mondays were also introduced, led by Mental Health First Aiders who communicate educational and supportive information.

Through the use of Staff Circle colleagues can share anything the wish through “the kitchen” section, in place of chats over coffee in the office, where colleagues can discuss topics outside of work. The Staff Circle also has “The Source”, allowing the Board and Leaders to provide business updates to all colleagues.

GLH's development programme is given to all colleagues, featuring monthly mandatory training on topics such as GDPR, dispute resolution, and managing stress, to be completed in their weekly development time slot. Every 6 weeks check-ins are held with colleagues and their line managers, covering their development needs and any specialist training that may be required.

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Housing Associations

Featurespace

Employees are each given access to an Employee Assistance Programme, a calendar of fitness classes and private medical cover through Vitality. Regular workshops provide great guidance on many mental wellbeing topics, and a reward scheme for physical activity was introduced to get colleagues moving.

Featurespace work hard to support many local businesses, from stocking their kitchens with local produce and providing tasty takeaway lunches for staff from local eateries. Where possible the company look to utilise up and coming small suppliers, who can really benefit from additional support which in turn helps provide different local employment opportunities.

Featurespace strives to constantly develop its people and promote from within wherever possible. The company encourages honest and open conversations when it comes to personal development goals, ensuring all team members have career development to strive for, whether that be into managerial positions or excelling in a more technical career path.

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Technology

Creative Education Trust

In a video, Marc Jordon explained to staff the reasons why he created the trust and outlined a new strategy. In March last year, headteachers ran the workshop in their own school. It was part of a mission to embed each school's role within the purpose of the wider organisation.

Last year's Best Companies survey revealed that staff, particularly those in the support (non-teaching) roles did not have sufficient development opportunities. As a result, the trust conducted a training-needs analysis and is in the process of building a development programme.

Middle leaders in the trust's schools have been involved in the development of a trust-wide curriculum, which has been important in recent Ofsted inspections. Senior leaders have the chance to be involved in improvement boards for another school as well as their own to widen their exposure to other ways of working.

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Charity's

Focus Group

The groups intranet platform provides a wellbeing centre containing advice, information, and videos around mindfulness, diet, finance, exercise, and is available for employees to access at all times. It also provides an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) which offers a 24/7 counselling service for any of our employees or their direct family that may be struggling.

A learning hub is available to all staff, enabling them to focus on their development. The hub provides onboarding information, details of talent management, details of our learning lunches designed to project positivity and promote life skills, and a training calendar where employees can book themselves onto training workshops such as effective communication and presentation.

Each year colleagues are invited nominate their peers for a wide range of awards, that are presented at an annual awards ceremony. This not only encourages employees to recognise the hard work and efforts of their employees, but also provides a good social setting for employees across the business to interact.

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Telecom

Growth Fuels Engagement

YMCA Together

Octopus Energy Group

Ashtons

Proxima

networx

Exposure Ninja

Golden Lane Housing

Featurespace

Creative Education Trust

Focus Group

Understand your organisational health across all eight factors

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