What are companies doing with regards to 'Personal Growth'

In 2012/13 Reed Smith launched an integrated masters in business and legal practice course (LPC) unique in the sector which ensured the trainees who completed this and join us from August 2013 onwards have a deep commercial skill set and a more rounded understanding of business strategy and finance in addition to the law. Their teamwork capability – and application of the commercial knowledge - is also enhanced with a 4 week-long “client project” on a business topic of the client's choosing towards the end of their course. One trainee commented “The client project was the best learning experience I can remember having taken part in”. Their careers competency framework and annual evaluation process for lawyers, staff and secretaries has been further linked to the learning opportunities made available throughout the year. The data from the evaluations was analysed to inform what learning programmes they offered, and this resulted in a number of new programmes being developed. For example, a senior associate business development programme, delivered by an external consultant has had strong feedback throughout and is now in its second year. Building on that they are now creating a senior associate management development programme run along similar lines, plus buddy meetings and a learning log to keep track and share success and progress as a result of the learning. For staff and secretaries they have created a range of courses including confidence and assertiveness, listening and questioning skills and stakeholder management, all of which have had positive feedback. Furthermore, they are rolling out a development programme aimed specifically at managers in their support groups.

Reed Smith financially (and with volunteers and pro bono legal services) support a number of key charities. Their primary charity partners which they have supported for a number of years include,Street League, The Prince's Trust, Providence Row and Create.

ReachLocal have regular speakers who come in and talk to their employees, most recently they had a speech on perception and how that influences the way they work. They like to encourage employees to look at how they can do things differently so that they can continue to achieve within the business.

ReachLocal have regular speakers who come in and talk to their employees, most recently they had a speech on perception and how that influences the way they work. They like to encourage employees to look at how they can do things differently so that they can continue to achieve within the business.

Pharmalink Consulting Ltd's company charity is a strong and firm foundation of their company, their employees are very supportive of their events and always attend as volunteers if possible.

Pharmalink Consulting Ltd set SMART objectives. With these they allow a timely consistent follow up and development opportunities from both internal and external sources.

The company has retained the key principles that have been so crucial to its ongoing success. They continue to operate within a fun and vibrant working environment where people can reach their full potential and enjoy the processes in getting there. ARK proves it is a great workplace because it views everybody as a valuable asset.

The company has retained the key principles that have been so crucial to its ongoing success. They continue to operate within a fun and vibrant working environment where people can reach their full potential and enjoy the processes in getting there. ARK proves it is a great workplace because it views everybody as a valuable asset.

Moo Print Ltd's last survey highlighted the desire and need for more training. As a result of this, they introduced a training budget of £100k and, using their employee development planners, identified training requirements based on individual needs. Employees and managers are empowered to decide what training providers, courses and conferences would be most beneficial to their development. These recommendations are put forward to, and approved, by the People Director. The process is quick and straightforward and they have seen in an uplift in engagement and enhanced skill sets as a result. Employees often share their training and conference experiences with the wider team via blog posts on their intranet.

Moo Print Ltd's last survey highlighted the desire and need for more training. As a result of this, they introduced a training budget of £100k and, using their employee development planners, identified training requirements based on individual needs. Employees and managers are empowered to decide what training providers, courses and conferences would be most beneficial to their development. These recommendations are put forward to, and approved, by the People Director. The process is quick and straightforward and they have seen in an uplift in engagement and enhanced skill sets as a result. Employees often share their training and conference experiences with the wider team via blog posts on their intranet.

Make encourages all partners to discuss their personal ambitions and where possible support them to do so. This may be by approving sabbaticals or allowing flexible working to attend a course. A number of their partners wish to give something back to the universities they attended to teach those now going through the same course. Make encourages individuals to do this and allow people to either use their holidays to give them a paid day off a week or amends contractual terms for them to do this. This is in addition to taking time to understand the types of projects individuals would like to work on through the appraisal process. Where possible they move people between projects to assist their aspirations.

Make studio is located close to a Church that caters for the homeless. They have supported their daily soup kitchen with small teams visiting to help prepare and distribute lunch. 23 Partners signed up for the Centre Point Homeless SleepOut. Make paid the sign-up fee for all, and individuals needed to raise £250 each in sponsorship for sleeping ‘rough' for a night – collectively raising total of £8,500. Nationally, they are a Foundation Partner for the property industry charity LandAid, which aims to help the young and disadvantaged access the facilities, skills and opportunities to achieve their potential. They participated in LandAid's annual fundraising fun run with 20 people taking part to raise money for the charity and promote awareness of their work. They have also continued to provide pro-bono design services for a new community centre in North Devon. This project has seen them dedicate almost £6k worth of their time and expertise in 2013 alone. The practice also supports numerous causes throughout the year as well as working with the charity Open City on their Accelerate programme aimed at young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to help them gain experience and mentoring from Architects. In 2013 alone they have contributed £10,000. They designed a doll's house which went for £4,000 in the auction raising money for the charity KIDS.

As a partnership, ISIS is an employee-owned organisation. As such, growing and improving through the ideas and feedback of team members is embedded into their structure and their culture. Promotion and advancement within ISIS is explicitly linked to employees coming up with ideas and then acting on them which contributes to the overall growth and development of the organisation.

As a partnership, ISIS is an employee-owned organisation. As such, growing and improving through the ideas and feedback of team members is embedded into their structure and their culture. Promotion and advancement within ISIS is explicitly linked to employees coming up with ideas and then acting on them which contributes to the overall growth and development of the organisation.

The range of training and personal development opportunities available to staff at the college is outstanding. Leyton Sixth Form College are committed to the principle of ‘growing their own' and their approach to staff development has been recognised by their achieving the Investors in People Champion status. In the past year alone. The overwhelming majority of their 200+ staff completed a person QIP (Quality Improvement Project), 12 staff completed a Level 2 Counselling Award, 8 staff worked towards an MA in Leadership, 1 staff member completed Masters units, 2 staff worked towards their PGCE qualification, 8 staff achieved a PTLLS qualification (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector), 1 staff member worked towards a DTLLS qualification, 1 staff member worked towards a Diploma in Marketing, 6 staff undertook an ‘Aspiring Senior Leaders' course, 1 member of staff achieved her CIPD (Personnel) professional qualification. Dozens of staff took part in teaching and learning focus groups either within college or as part of their local collaborative partnership. Dozens more became members of internal working parties addressing key issues within college.

The range of training and personal development opportunities available to staff at the college is outstanding. Leyton Sixth Form College are committed to the principle of ‘growing their own' and their approach to staff development has been recognised by their achieving the Investors in People Champion status. In the past year alone. The overwhelming majority of their 200+ staff completed a person QIP (Quality Improvement Project), 12 staff completed a Level 2 Counselling Award, 8 staff worked towards an MA in Leadership, 1 staff member completed Masters units, 2 staff worked towards their PGCE qualification, 8 staff achieved a PTLLS qualification (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector), 1 staff member worked towards a DTLLS qualification, 1 staff member worked towards a Diploma in Marketing, 6 staff undertook an ‘Aspiring Senior Leaders' course, 1 member of staff achieved her CIPD (Personnel) professional qualification. Dozens of staff took part in teaching and learning focus groups either within college or as part of their local collaborative partnership. Dozens more became members of internal working parties addressing key issues within college.