Formal management development is supported through both internal and external programmes, leading to professional qualifications. During the pandemic, Bibby introduced specific training on how to manage colleagues remotely. An Aspiring Manager programme offers colleagues an opportunity to learn basic managerial skills, performance management and supporting wellbeing.

Female members of the sales team hosted a successful session to promote diversity and inclusion, focusing on the challenges faced in some areas of the business. Similar sessions are planned for departments perceived to be male-dominated, such as IT and finance, to encourage more women to apply.

Leaders became reliant on video calls during the pandemic, but made sure to not just chat or write emails to employees, but to engage in weekly socials, consistent team meetings and quick calls to discuss an issue or concern. The company believes in the lead-by-example approach.

Weekly one-to-ones take place with all employees and there are also weekly team-building events, along with six-week and quarterly town hall meetings, which have been moved online. There are also online socials.

Staff are regularly encouraged by management to switch off from work, go for walks and engage in virtual social events whenever possible. Employees are also encouraged to make calls to colleagues they have not spoken to for a while and to continue to listen to and support colleagues.

Everyone is allocated two paid days a year to volunteer or get involved in a community project and staff have been encouraged use these days for remote activities where possible during lockdown. The firm also donated the £15,000 it would have spent on the annual client Christmas party to charity.

The UK leadership team lead programmes covering age, gender, LGBT+, disability and faith to provide role models for behaviour both internally and externally. They share best practice with peer organisations through media engagement and conferences to encourage others to follow suit.

Arcadis supports mental and physical health as a priority, organising a 12-week physical exercise course with a personal trainer during lockdown and extending private medical insurance to include a Family Health helpline. The Babylon online GP service has been introduced so that doctors can be accessed without visiting a surgery.

Culture Club is an initiative run by staff, for staff, to ensure everyone makes time for fun and socialising in and out of the office. It also allows employees to meet team members in different parts of the world. Events include a sports day, a bake-off, workout classes and quizzes.

The agency's Americas office asked colleagues to nominate local charities that were in need of PPE. A range of deserving charities was put forward, making it hard to choose just one, so adm decided to divide 2 million PPE masks between all seven nominations.

Utilita collaborated with Solent Mind to deliver a virtual mental wellbeing roadshow in May 2020. Staff attended workshops on how to manage stress and sleep better. The company has also held Pandemic Burnout workshops with tips on surviving a challenging year.

The company has donated £50,000 from its levy to support good causes. Utilita has signed up to The Prinice's Trust Million Makers fundraising competition with an online auction and sponsored TikTok dance challenge called Pay as You Go –Gos. Utilita recycles its IT equipment where possible and sends no waste to landfill.

Triple Point anticipates a mindset change in relation to flexible working but has not formalised this yet. In between lockdowns, people were allowed back to the office on a recommended but discretionary basis, which suited different people's wants and needs, and maintained a hub for employees to connect.

During the pandemic, the company donated 15% of initial fees taken from all investment products to its Helping Hands initiative to supply 17,000 hand creams to frontline NHS workers, ambulance trusts, care homes and schools across the UK. Gifting is set to continue via a percentage raised in this way.

Rapport works with WOW! Awards to uncover personal, individual stories of outstanding service by its employees. Its favourites are published in the Rapport Inspire book – which sits in the British library. All new starters get a copy to introduce them to Rapport's values and exceptional people.

As allies to the LGBTQIA+ community Rapport held events to recognise Transgender Awareness in November and during Pride Month it shared messages of acceptance, empowerment and compassion. On National Coming Out Day it partnered with the myGwork business community for a social media campaign #IAmOutAtWork where some Rapport employees proudly shared personalised graphics to mark the day.

The monthly Simply the Best awards honour staff who have demonstrated PeoplePlus's three trademarks – True North, Own It, Improve to be the Best. Winners receive a financial award and an invitation to the annual awards evening at Warwick Castle.

PeoplePlus has a long-running partnership with the Prince's Trust, which includes staff donating the pence from their salaries to the charity via the Pennies From Heaven scheme. Also, employees receive a paid day off for volunteering, which many used last year to offer pandemic-related help to charities and local people.