The Royal Mint encourages a strong team spirit. Through initiatives such as Fancy Dress Fridays and Picture of the Month competitions, The Royal Mint fosters fun and belonging within teams.
The Royal Mint prioritises employee wellbeing through its Wellbeing Plans. Initiatives such as the Golden Hour, weekly virtual yoga sessions, and rules against emailing outside of working hours, all contribute to a healthy work-life balance.
The Royal Mint remains dedicated to giving back to society. Its employees actively participate in various charity events, such as football festivals and flea markets for MIND, and work with Maggie's cancer charity.
Employees at Age Well East are provided with opportunities for personal development through Reflective Practice sessions and one-to-one meetings, where they can express their interest in specific training or skills enhancement.
The organisation prioritises employee wellbeing by offering an Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing seminars and maintaining a menopause policy. This demonstrates its commitment to supporting employees in managing work-life balance and personal health.
Leadership at Age Well East is characterised by transparency and regular communication with the team. Monthly updates from the CEO and an open-door policy from leaders create a supportive and engaging work environment.
Ashton Gate ensures a fair deal for employees by annually reviewing pay scales. In 2023, the organisation was able to enhance pay by 3% across the group, demonstrating its commitment to fair compensation.
Ashton Gate prioritises wellbeing, providing services like Health Assured and Able Futures for mental, physical, and financial advice. It also hosts Wellness Weeks, featuring activities like meditation and pilates, to promote a healthy work environment.
Ashton Gate believes in giving back to the community. Post-match day events see excess food donated to local food banks. The organisation also strives to reduce its environmental footprint through initiatives like Project Whitebeam.
Siddall & Hilton's dedicated work committee, representative of various business areas, coordinates seasonal social activities. This not only enriches the workplace culture but also fosters team spirit and camaraderie.
Siddall & Hilton's fair treatment of employees is reflected in its quarterly profit-related bonus scheme. It has also increased pay overall by 23% over the last two years, demonstrating its commitment to employee welfare amid the cost of living crisis.
Siddall & Hilton prioritises mental health, with initiatives such as the Menopause Café and the 'Listening Ears' team. It also provides a fully funded financial coaching service, further supporting their employees' wellbeing.
Youth Sports Trust prioritises employee wellbeing with initiatives like Wellbeing Champions, Active 30 team, and Menopause Champions. It has also developed a Wellbeing policy and a Wellbeing Charter to support its staff's mental, emotional, and social wellness.
Leadership at the Trust is committed to living out the organisation's values, promoting them during corporate inductions, training, and staff reward programmes. They further demonstrate responsibility through the creation of an employee engagement action plan.
Youth Sport Trust gives back to society through initiatives like the Generation Charnwood project, which focuses on enhancing the wellbeing and life chances of local young people. The organisation also promotes sustainable and active lifestyles through staff wellbeing initiatives.
Morson Group's managers provide robust support to its teams, with initiatives like the HR for Line Managers course and regular 'HR Check-ins' fostering open communication and effective issue resolution.
Morson Group's commitment to wellbeing is demonstrated through its weekly yoga sessions, mental health first aider training, and comprehensive menopause support framework, all aimed at fostering a supportive and caring environment.
Leadership at Morson Group is proactive and responsive, with regular town halls, focus groups and one-to-one sessions with C-suite directors ensuring that employees at all levels have a voice in company policy.
Lovat Parks maintains a hands-on approach with its leadership frequently visiting parks and central offices. The company encourages openness and accessibility, enabling employees to comfortably share their thoughts, concerns, and suggestions. The management also ensures regular one-to-ones and reviews to focus on employee strengths.
Lovat Parks offers interest-free pay advances to all team members, with flexible repayment options. The company is a real living wage employer and offers all team members a 50% discount on any holiday booked on one of their parks.
The company's commitment to wellbeing is notable, with a structured plan focusing on workplace, financial, social, and mental wellbeing. Lovat Parks also offers an Employee Assistance Programme, mental health awareness training, and a Mental Health First Aider programme.
Open GI champions a blended learning approach. It believes development happens in everyday interactions, not just through formal learning. Employees are encouraged to be insightful and make the most of every opportunity. The company’s personal growth resources include webinars and podcasts, as well as a wide range of content on its learning management system.
Wellbeing initiatives have continued to take place as part of a calendar of events. There have been initiatives centring around blood pressure, grief and loss, ADHD and Mental Health Awareness Week, amongst other important issues. There have also been improvements to the wellbeing section on the company intranet.
The company hosted a "sustainability day" to raise awareness about how employees can be more eco-friendly, inside and outside work. During the event, Open GI launched its electric vehicle and hybrid car leasing scheme, through which employees can buy an EV or hybrid vehicle at a reduced price through salary sacrifice.
Employees enjoy a morale-boosting 'office dog day' where one owner brings their pet to meet the team. Staff also benefit from a health cash plan, employee assistance programme and full health checks from a local gym. The team is scheduled to return before year end to check progress and celebrate employee achievements.
From meals out to charity challenges, meet-ups are planned in advance to ensure everyone can make them. There's a Town Hall every quarter for business updates, staff awards, food and social time. And Christmas and summer events, including a ball, encourage colleagues and their partners to catch up and let their hair down.
There's a generous annual budget for learning and development, and employees are encouraged to request any training they believe would benefit their roles, from degrees to professional courses. And the company works with staff with specific career aspirations to formulate career pathways and development plans.
Whilst it doesn’t provide a formal programme, Cloverleaf regularly looks at management development opportunities. Management have access to Level 5 qualifications, apprenticeships, and external management training. Managers also have monthly discussions where they can raise any concerns. It also encourages a peer support system, where managers buddy up to support their services and wellbeing.
Organisational clarity is key. Leadership runs a quarterly employee briefing to provide company updates and strategy. This is reinforced by a monthly managers forum which directors attend; this goes into further detail about the plans and workstreams so that the information can be passed to teams in team meetings and supervisions.
The charity has Mental Health First Aiders for its people to speak to regularly if times are hard. It subscribes to Perkbox so employees have access to its wellbeing platform which include fitness and mental health tools such as mindfulness podcasts. The charity also runs weekly mindfulness sessions.
Evolito runs a fitness challenge where departments compete against each other, with the winners receiving Nike vouchers. Many employees participate, with people walking at the weekend to add to their team's success. The organisation invited a bike doctor onsite and employees were able to bring up to two bikes each for a free service.
The organisation builds employee relationships through a number of social activities such as a weekly football, badminton, biking and walking groups, and an in-office social area with jigsaws, chess, and ping pong. It also has a company pet Tortoise, Donna. Employees share responsibility caring for her at work and taking her home at the weekend.
Employees have the opportunity to win prizes every week during Friday’s ‘Spin the Wheel’. If some employees work late, the organisation will order them food for free. The organisation also sends thank yous to employees’ families. It recently sent flowers to the partners of two employees who had been working late for several weeks.
Staff have highly rated the company's wellbeing and coaching service in supporting their mental health, resilience and stress management. Almost half have returned for a second session. Pax8 UK also offers wellness rooms to help with work-life balance and chat about personal issues. And for peace of mind, staff get private medical cover.
A dedicated 'Talent Enablement and Development Department' supports staff to achieve their ambitions. Monthly competency workshops empower employees to understand the skills they have and the ones they want to develop. An e-learning platform gives access to 88,000 courses, and an internal jobs board helps staff quickly identify opportunities for moves and promotions.
There's a 'Principals of Leadership' course for anyone interested in stepping up. It includes collaborative decision-making and building team pride and purpose. And those already in leadership positions benefit from a 'Transformational Leadership' programme aligning with the company's 'Culture Canvas' principles. Topics include psychological safety, self-awareness and a leadership mindset.
CIMSPA’s wellbeing committee (Welbots) supports employees with signposting, awareness activities, and creating the opportunity for social interaction. Employees have access to a range of benefits including a healthy living allowance, access to the CALM app for themselves and up to 5 family/friends, an employee assistance program, and initiatives to get them out at lunchtime.
The organisation’s three core values (Respect, Quality, and Teamwork) sit at the heart of everything it does. It holds quarterly all staff team meetings, off-site, and at all these events it has team awards, one of which being the LOVE Award (Living Our Values Everyday), to acknowledge those who promote the organisation’s culture and values.
CIMSPA has put together a list of resources that people working in sport and physical activity can use to help people who have fled the war in Ukraine. Chief executive Tara Dillon says: "I believe sport and physical activity can be a lifeline for many who have arrived in the UK."
The organisation has a staff counselling service which is available to all Touchstone employees and volunteers. Staff can access up to 6 confidential sessions, paid for entirely by Touchstone. It also pays for counselling from a therapist of staff’s choice, including a male or female counsellor, BME or LGBTQ+ background.
The CEO is an ex-Touchstone service user with lived experience of mental health and is supported by a Senior Leadership Team who also have lived experience of mental health and neurodiversity conditions. The CEO produces videos for employees and attends team meetings highlighting his personal vision and experience aligning this to Touchstone’s mission and values.
The organisation organises at least two fun away days per year, with teams doing additional social days as well. In September 2023, it held an whole organisation away day at Herd Farm. The day allowed staff to take part in activities such as giant swings, archery, pottery, walks, face painting, and much more.
With a largely young workforce, TFS keeps them engaged by keeping things lively and sociable, arranging gatherings and activities inside and outside of office hours where possible. It promotes its EAP to all employees so they can seek external support if preferred. It also supports employees’ personal missions, especially with charitable causes and keeping fit.
The organisation offers strong and consistent mentorship, from other senior managers and very open and transparent communication. It promotes within the organisation, to allow for internal development opportunities - however provide full support and transition processes when doing so.
All new starters are assigned a buddy in their team who they can go to for asking questions or an informal chat. Everyone is taken for lunch on their first day, either with their buddy or along with other new starters and a couple of members of the team.
A new wellbeing team of reps from across Tees' offices is looking at ways to improve the firm's approach to health and wellbeing. There are regular internal and inter-business sporting events, and employees get a day off for their birthday and enjoy deals and discounts through the company's benefits platform.
With invitations to social events, new recruits are part of the Tees team before they even start. They get a thorough induction schedule to make effective connections from the get-go, and IT training is standard. A team lunch also supports them to have the best onboarding experience.
The new 'Tees Better Future Fund' offers grants of up to £5000 for projects that support learning and education and promote good health and wellbeing in Cambridgeshire, Essex and Hertfordshire. It builds on the good work the firm and its employees regularly undertake, whether charitable Pro Bono work or sponsoring community events.
Employees enjoy regular events, campaigns and activities thanks to the employee-led and award-winning health and wellbeing group 'Hapus.' It's organised 'Brunch & Babble' sessions, wellbeing walks, online bingo, men's mental health breakfasts and 'Walk in My Shoes' learning lunches to help people find out about experiences and backgrounds different to their own.
Staff now find it easier to identify and request training. They can highlight opportunities at any time rather than having to wait for specific points in the year. RHA supports technical and leadership development and encourages employees to attend networks and conferences. It's investing in training provision to increase the number of courses available.
Staff are involved in numerous projects and fund-raising initiatives. These include walking more than 20 miles to Cardiff to raise money for tenants' Christmas hampers, working with a local organisation to help young people learn construction skills and involving more than 400 people in health and wellbeing sessions, from community walks to chair yoga.
PICs' health and wellbeing forum supports staff with services such as clinical psychology. It's training more Mental Health First Aiders to help employees organisation-wide, and there are plans for an Employee Assistance Programme. Staff are encouraged to take advantage of health service discount schemes and boost their health through the Cycle to Work scheme.
New starters get a corporate induction on their first day supported by a comprehensive handbook with information on structure, training, IT systems and what to expect during their probationary period. The HR team checks in with recruits at two and six weeks to ensure they're settling in and to address any concerns early.
Small changes are helping reduce PICS' carbon footprint. Everything from writing to toilet paper is now recycled, plumbed-in water coolers have replaced bottle systems, a Net Zero lead has been appointed, and it's working with Sherwood Forest Trust to plant hundreds of trees – committing to doing it every year on the organisation's birthday.
Both physical and mental health are important at Pico. It has a group of mental health first aiders that provide aid to employees who feel they need support. Additionally, Pico provides a free gym for its employees, and it holds lunchtime forums on eating and sleeping right.
Managers at Pico have a chat room in which they can share tips, offer advice for less experienced managers, and ask questions. Additionally, there is a monthly recruitment drop-in session so that managers can keep up to date with their interviewing skills as well as partake in some roleplaying exercises.
Its leaders have ensured that their teams have both their full support as well as facilitating a supportive environment. They arrange regular coffee catch-up sessions with their teams to chat about their personal lives. They also run a social media blog where leaders discuss achievements from the month and challenges coming up.
In April, it hosted its first Financial Wellbeing Week, highlighting the benefits it offers such as Westfield Health, Aviva Digicare, and its EAP. It has also hosted 'in-office' events such as Time to Talk Day and Brew & a Biscuit sessions to encourage people to come together to check in.
Peel provides a training library of events open to all employees to upskill within their role, from emotional intelligence to developing self-esteem and assertiveness skills. It also provides a Personal Development Plan (PDP) which are tailored to each individual, supporting their specific development needs. This reinforces its commitment to the growth of its people.
Employees took on the Great Manchester Run raising a total of £1,682 for Once Upon a Smile. Employees also took part in a special volunteering day to mark World Environment Day - encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. It also plans to raise money at Tough Mudder and MacMillan Coffee Mornings.
With access to Spill, employees have easy access to therapy. They can ask a therapist a question about their own wellbeing or how to support others, and they can also arrange one-off counselling sessions. Peak also has trained mental health first aiders and supports employees’ physical wellbeing through its Peak Fit Club.
‘Open’ is one of Peak’s core values. Every Friday, it has a company-wide standup. Peak ensures that these are in-person where possible and provides pastries or lunch as another reason to get together and socialise. The theme for each week is different and are more detailed if at the end of the month or quarter.
Values are core to Peak’s culture. In the last year, it has updated its Culture Manifesto. Innovation and entrepreneurial spirit drive the business to succeed. Employees are included in company initiatives and strategy as its leadership ensures the organisation remains an open and collaborative workplace.
Its holistic therapy service offers colleagues an opportunity for physical and mental wellbeing. All staff are supported and enabled to take time out within the week to access time for a range of therapies, which promote both physical and mental health agendas. Staff feedback from a short course of massages has been universally positive.
The organisation has introduced 'team in the spotlight' at its membership meetings. Open to all staff and community members, it encourages a deep-dive into a department and service to greater showcase and understand the work of the team along with challenges and good practice they have faced and developed.
As the company supports placements for healthcare professionals, an education and learning environment is evident across its services. Individual development requests are also encouraged. These are peer reviewed by managers, over 90% of personal study leave requests are supported immediately. In the last year, it has appointed two new roles of 'Professional Development' leads.
A dedicated health and wellbeing programme includes webinars, promotes awareness days, and shares healthy living tips on topics from finances to menopause and prostate cancer. Staff and their families also have private health care provision, including a 24/7 support line.
All employees can access a wide range of courses through the online learning management system, allowing them to learn at their own pace and at a time that suits them. There's a Future Leader Programme for managers, and each department has a training budget supporting staff to take courses aligned with their specific job roles.
All employees are given reusable coffee cups to help reduce the number of cups ending up in the ground. And the company has a dedicated 'ReUse shop' with items saved from landfill. It also uses the many donations of cutlery, cups and glasses in its own departments to keep them from buying new ones.
Staff can share how they’re feeling with monthly wellbeing workshops covering topics like mental health and menopause. They also have access to counselling services, massages, yoga sessions and a dedicated wellbeing app. And everyone gets private healthcare after two years. There’s also a ‘helping hand fund’ offering interest-free loans to anyone struggling to fund necessities.
Based on their feedback, staff now benefit from a revised bonus structure, with the personal performance element, which everyone got, now part of their basic salary. This has allowed for a boost in pension contributions and helps employees with mortgage applications. The bonus is now 100% based on company profit.
The company has reinvigorated its Diploma Academy to tackle a shortage of candidates – particularly paraplanners. The two-year course with a qualification at the end is open to school leavers, graduates and those who want to retrain. All exams and study materials are paid for, and they also get paid time off to study.
With medical and dental insurance, a healthcare cash plan, 24/7 access to a GP, sports clubs and fitness classes, staff are supported to stay well. They can also access a digital health support app to track their health, get personalised insights and recommendations and engage with others facing challenges like menopause, cancer or fertility issues.
Employees are recognised for the unique skills they bring. The firm focuses on helping them develop in areas they're good at and offering roles that play to their strengths and unlock their potential. Cooper Parry's L&D offer isn't just about sending people on courses but broader personal development, such as through board breaking and firewalking.
Being B Corp Certified cements the firm's commitment to the environment and society. It promises to volunteer 365 days a year, including a 'Community Day' where all offices close. Staff can help wherever they like or through the 'On Hand' partnership supporting local schools, hospices, homeless shelters, food banks, and the elderly.
ClearScore recognises that sometimes people need support. Leave after pregnancy loss is a policy it has recently provided. The organisation understands the impact pregnancy loss can have on both parents, so should an employee experience this, if directly, with their partner, or through surrogacy, ClearScore gives them the time they need.
Its leaders articulate eight behavioural principles, which are described as the 'rules of the game'. They ensure that all employees are judged and measured against these. ClearScore's principles are communicated to new starters as part of an intensive two-day onboarding process and employees who demonstrate these principles are celebrated at the 'end-of-race' awards every quarter.
It encourages employees to create a Personal Development Plan to structure and commit to their learning and growth. Employees are given a learning budget of £500 to support their individual personal development. This is housed on a platform called Learnerbly, where employees can access a wide range of development content.
Quiet rooms as a safe space for prayer, meditation and reflection are a feature of many Burns & MacDonnell offices – part of creating a diverse and inclusive environment where “people feel comfortable speaking up and living authentically as themselves.” Monthly wellbeing sessions include breakfasts, toolkit talks, and experience sharing.
Through the MacCulture Recognition programme, employees who demonstrate the company’s values accumulate points to exchange for prizes. There are also one and five-year service awards where employees can choose from exclusive brand merchandise. And staff get a special award package for milestone anniversaries, starting from 10 years.
The manager mentor programme matches those new to management with seasoned managers with similar interests or work-life situations. It provides advice and guidance and gives new managers somebody to bounce ideas off and learn from. It also supports relationship-building with other managers throughout the company.
The organisation has 17 trained Mental Health First Aiders across the business and its Employee Assistance Programme gives staff multiple avenues to discuss their mental health in an open and confidential manner. The HR Team also run Mental Health in the Workplace sessions for Managers, which are compulsory for them to attend.
AJ Bell publish a regular series of interviews with its CEO and other members of the Executive Committee to its staff intranet. The videos cover business and performance updates, as well as personal reflections, and support the organisation’s work on an open and accountable culture. They also ensure staff receive a consistent message from leaders.
In February, the organisation launched its new charitable initiative – the AJ Bell Futures Foundation – initially committing to contribute 0.5% of its profits before tax to the Foundation each year – to establish deep-rooted, long-term partnerships whilst building futures in its communities. To date, it has donated £100,000 to each of its charity partners.
The company understands that quality time is crucial to overall employee wellbeing, and ensures that all staff have their birthday off every year. It shows gratitude to one star performer weekly by awarding them an all-expenses paid break at a luxury barn in the Lake District, including paid leave and £100 spending money.
To ensure that the company informs its colleagues, improvements, developments, and successes both big and small are communicated. It has an open-door policy and adopts a non-hierarchal approach to feedback. Is leadership team alternates weekly ‘Tea Trolley’ duties, providing opportunities to share ideas/feedback whilst delivering yummy treats.
It is keen to help employees develop and grow, and achieve their own professional and personal goals. Due to the nature of the service it provides, it relies on its colleagues’ strength and passion. When Health Assured was formed, demand for workplace wellbeing solutions was a shadow of what it would become.
Ontic is committed to creating an open and supportive culture. It wants employees to feel comfortable speaking about how menopause-related symptoms may be affecting them at work and be able to ask for the support that they need to help manage their symptoms. Managers have been provided support to help them have conversations about menopause.
Ontic has a dedicated People Managers' Communication channel - a monthly, action-driven communication platform with clear expectations of what managers are expected to read/understand and share/do with their teams. This is backed up by a dedicated Managers Hub which provides managers with all the information they need to do their job effectively.
The company continues to see considerable growth in the business through acquisitions. However, this means that it has inherited a lack of female representation at all levels. To tackle this, Ontic employed 30 new starters, of which 17 were female, and it has seen increased numbers of women joining its Early Careers Programme.
The healthcare provider has implemented Menopause Support initiatives to raise awareness, with the hope to erase the stigma around this topic. Additionally, it has created a social and wellbeing committee to engage employees in more social activities as well as activities to promote physical health.
The company launched its Leadership Academy last year aiming to empower its junior and first-line manager cohorts to maximise their potential and bring about positive change within their departments. Additionally, it released a digital skills programme, providing comprehensive training opportunities across many subjects including Microsoft Teams, Advanced Power BI, and Project Management.
With a desire to increase the personal engagement of the Head of Departments, it equips leaders with the ability to lead change positively and recognise their role in establishing a healthy culture within their direct span of influence and beyond. This program will enable relationships between departments to strengthen and drive home company values.
RSM UK has an annual wellbeing campaign called ‘JanYOUary’ which is designed to help its people to invest time in themselves, supported by a month-long calendar with activity ideas. Each year, the campaign’s focus is adapted to keep it relevant. The organisation has also signed the Global Collaboration for Better Workplace Mental Health pledge.
The organisation utilises open communication between all levels of the business through its Employee Voice Champions (responsible for improving the employee experience at RSM UK), Talk to the Top (employees meet with the leadership team to discuss issues), and Diversity and Inclusion Network Groups (helping to shape the organisation’s EDI policies).
In the 12 months up to 31st March 2023, the RSM UK Foundation made charitable donations of a value of over £730,000. These donations included over £15,000 to Trees for Cities to support ongoing environmental projects and more than £110,000 in partnership with UNICEF in its appeals for Pakistan Floods and the Syria-Türkiye Earthquake.
Employee wellbeing is a key focus for Vindis Group’s Board of Directors; and, as such, the implementation of many initiatives has been supported. These include: a robust internal wellbeing programme, including optional ‘Welfare Meetings’; access to Occupational Health Therapists, funded by the Company; four Mental Health First Aiders; and mandatory mental health training.
The Vindis Group launched a new 'Vision Cube' for the organisation, to provide clarity and direction with respect to the vision and values of the Company. The Vision Cube has six distinct elements: Pioneering Mindset; Sustainable Process; Outstanding Outcomes; Customer Obsession; High Performance Culture; and Exceptional People.
The Vindis Group offers access to leadership development programmes – accredited by the Institute of the Motor Industry. ‘Aspire’ seeks to further develop individuals who are beginning to demonstrate the mindset and behaviours intrinsic to potential future leadership roles. It has a comprehensive application and enrolment process, and welcomes 30 individuals each year.
Employees already benefit from retail discounts and medical cashback, and there is now additional cost-of-living support. All staff can apply for up to £500 from The Stowe Helping Hand Fund if they find themselves with an unexpected bill they’re struggling to pay, such as a broken boiler or car breakdown.
Stowefest is the annual get-together for all the firm’s legal teams. There are opportunities for training and development and to hear from inspirational external speakers. And 2022 saw the first ‘Best in Stowe’ awards gala dinner. There were more than 100 nominations, with peer-nominated categories including Best Newcomer and Most Valuable Player.
New starters benefit from an enhanced induction process. They get IT equipment and access to the firm’s people system before they start. They’re also allocated a buddy and have a virtual meet and greet with the CEO. An extended settling-in period has replaced the probation period, and they can access benefits from day one.
There is a dedicated team that focuses on mental health and overall wellbeing for all team members. The agency also offer all managers Mental Health for Managers training. This course includes modules that cover the fundamentals of mental health, diminishing stigma, and cultivating a sense of assurance when engaging in conversations with their teams.
The agency's underlying value is People First. By practising open communication, inclusivity, and providing channels for feedback and employee representation, it creates a supportive and engaging work environment. To encourage open dialogue, the organisation established an Ask the Board channel. This platform allows all employees to directly ask questions or provide feedback to board members.
Rocketmill has launched its Academy; a structured 3-month training programme across its 2 largest departments. Each attendee has a mentor and works through the same syllabus with the aim to complete a final test and be awarded a permanent contract. This programme has allowed the agency to nurture and grow talent.
The organisation provides gym membership for its employees which includes access to the flagship Fitness First gym in the basement of the building. It also launched the Listening Squad to offer support and guidance to employees in need. They are available for regular support and promoted the Time to Talk Week.
All teams have morning meetings to get them motivated. Activities include spinning a wheel to win a prize. Team nights out aren’t just about drinking, but also doing competitive activities or games such as bowling, escape room and shuffleboard. On a Friday each month it holds a fun activity within the office like ‘X-Factor Friday’.
The Charity Champions team organises a programme of fundraising events throughout the year and last year the organisation raised £18,000. Fundraising activities included The Royal Parks Half Marathon, The Queen’s Jubilee Bake sale, World Cup events in the office, Football Jumper Day, sponsored a music evening, Christmas Jumper Day donations, and Halloween dress-up day.
ARAG’s Wellbeing Champions meet regularly to discuss what they can do to help staff both proactively and reactively. Recent discussions have included the benefits of music and the reasons to hold meetings whilst walking. The company puts wellbeing at the heart of its manager check-in process, so colleagues know there are spaces for tough conversations.
The leadership team and other key staff use an all-staff cinema event to communicate the company’s overarching strategic goals. These goals are utilised throughout ARAG’s performance management system to ensure all staff can clearly see what their efforts mean to those goals. Clarity of message is reinforced through fortnightly updates led by the Managing Director.
Clarity is an essential value to ARAG. Company comms are achieved through a number of ways, including online video calls from key managers and leadership team members, general initiatives and outcomes that staff are not only responsible for but passionate about, news posts, intranet pages, videos, animations, and more.
At Admiral, its employees have access to a unique benefit – its Share Incentive Plan (SIP). This came into existence with the Finance Act of 2000 to give employees Tax and National Insurance advantages when given shares in their place of employment. The organisation believes share ownership helps to motivate and reward longer-term performance.
Admiral has partnered with industry specialists Bupa and Health and Her to offer a discounted menopause service for its colleagues. Both include access to specially trained menopause GPs along with varied benefits for each. Alongside this, it has worked with Brightlight coaching who provide the Bloom project to provide line manager training on women’s health.
Its senior managers sponsor the Ministry of Fun (MOF) which encourages colleagues to enjoy their time whilst at work. Each month a different department or group of departments are responsible for organising in-office and hybrid fun events, with each month sponsored by a different senior manager.
As well as a generous leave allowance, with extra days at Christmas and Easter, employees benefit from a subsidised fitness and wellness subscription, which gives access to classes, gym sessions and experiences worldwide. Discounted gym membership is also available through the company’s private medical insurance provider, alongside mental health support.
Interns are welcome at Brandpie. A new recruit is hired quarterly – bolstering the team in any department from design to project management. They get a ‘buddy’ and are involved in all aspects of project work, from insights and research to client presentations. They also have skills training in areas like communication and IT.
The company helps young people from underrepresented backgrounds get into managerial and leadership roles through a mentorship programme with the Aleto Foundation. And Brandpie’s supporting those affected by the war in Ukraine. This has included the London to Kyiv challenge, where its team walked, swam, cycled or ran a collective 1,340 miles for sponsorship.
The ‘Alchemmy Sport’ initiative encourages colleagues to participate in group running, football and squash sessions, with plans to add more activities. There are also ‘comfortable conversation’ sessions where mental health issues can be discussed in a group setting. And mental health first aiders are always on hand for one-to-one chats.
Employees now benefit from greater transparency around the competencies they need to progress through the ‘Grades Reimagined’ scheme. It splits everyone into sub-levels within their job grade, showing what they need to do to move up the grades. The initiative has involved benchmarking with recruitment agencies and across the marketplace.
‘Alchemmy Gives’ has been set up to help local causes. Alchemmists donated coats to the ‘WrapUp London’ campaign and ran a charity raffle raising more than £1,600 for Breast Cancer Now. And there’s a half-day company-wide volunteering session every year, with the last one supporting the upkeep of a community garden.
Employees are supported by a team of Mental Health First Aiders and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for information, advice and counselling. The company has links to Sheffield Credit Union, meaning staff are helped to consolidate and manage any debt, including making payments direct from payroll. Vivedia also offers interest-free emergency loans to its employees.
As well as a pre-starting welcome gift, recruits are introduced to their company ‘buddy’ to help them ease into their new role. Every quarter, there’s a new starter event where joiners get a complete overview of the strategy and values and get to join others in the same boat for fun, team-building activities.
Employees are empowered to own their development. They're free to suggest courses or training relevant to their role or personal growth, and internal courses cover various behavioural, people and management skills. There's also coaching supported by personality profiling and opportunities for secondments, additional responsibilities and internal moves.
Everyone benefits from generous annual leave and flexible working with no set days in the office. Staff also get free healthcare – which includes 'staying well' initiatives, as well as an Employee Assistance Programme and a Cycle to Work scheme. In addition, all employees received £1000 to ease cost-of-living pressures.
During their induction, new recruits get time with the Managing Director to help them understand the company's history, vision and values. They also get to meet many key people from all levels, from the finance director to the admin team, to reassure them that there's always somebody on hand to help.
As it's a challenging process to become chartered and can take years to achieve, Tenos offers its employees expertise and project diversity to ensure they have the experience they need before they put in their Chartered Engineer applications. The company also has a formal mentor scheme.
Mental Health First Aiders are on hand across the organisation for any employees who may need a listening ear. National awareness days are used as a focus for wellbeing activities, such as stress management webinars, and positive wellbeing is encouraged through charitable giving, volunteering, team socials and exercise challenges.
Almost one in five new hires have come via Node 4’s generous employee referral scheme. Staff get £1200 if they successfully recommend a candidate. An initial £500 is awarded when they complete their three-month probationary period and the remaining £700 after they’ve been employed for six months.
Node4’s Trans4mation Leadership Development Framework is an internal five-level training programme for all tiers of management and leadership across the business, from helping new managers navigate policies and processes to boosting senior leadership experience, including the option of an ILM Level 5 qualification. The principles of ‘Exceptional Service as Standard’ (ESaaS) are embedded throughout.
Reduced mental health-related sickness has saved the organisation more than £90,000 thanks to a range of wellbeing initiatives, including the We Care employee healthcare portal, which provides services including 24/7 GP access and counselling. There's also a dedicated month-long initiative championed by Mental Health First Aiders, a bi-monthly HPG Wellbeing newsletter and an intranet mini-site.
New managers – new to management or new to the organisation – are supported through a bespoke management induction, including toolkits to get them up and running quickly. And the Group offers two management development programmes – one for aspiring managers and one for new or future heads of service focused on leadership and strategy.
The Group's Homes Plus My Community Fund provides grants of up to £30,000 annually for grassroots organisations looking to make a difference to communities. This has included sponsoring the Best Kept Village Community Competition in Staffordshire, helping young people make music in a Scout and Guide Band and supporting a group of women taking-up football.
Barnsley Hospice takes the wellbeing of its staff very seriously, offering a number of programmes to support them, including a 24/7 helpline, up to 6 counselling sessions covered by the hospice, psychological debriefs to help colleagues come to terms with their experiences, and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives such as a walking group.
With the cost-of-living crisis affecting workers throughout the UK, Barnsley Hospice has ensured that its staff, whatever their role or position within the organisation, are receiving a fair salary that is above the real living wage. In 2022, 100% of the organisation’s staff received a pay rise.
All employees are invited to the monthly Staff Forum where they can share any concerns or suggestions. Feedback provided at these events have resulted in several improvements within the organisation, including a suggestion box which is reviewed during the following month’s forum, a book swap club, EV charging points, and coffee and cake days!
In 2022, Ghyston implemented two pay rises to counteract the cost-of-living crisis, and reviewed its employees salaries against the market place to ensure that they were being paid fairly. An additional inflation pay increase was implemented in January 2023. All of the organisation’s employees are paid above the living wage.
Employee Innovation Days, which happen every quarter, mean all staff stop paid work to explore, learn or nail down something that interests them. These are great days to work with others from across the business on whatever is important to them.
In 2022, the organisation raised over £15,000 for charity, supported local code clubs, and provided pro bono development work for charities. It launched The Ghyston Foundation which offers STEM outreach, supports employees’ charitable endeavours, and is committed to donating 10% of its annual profits to charity – with a target of £1million donated by 2032.
The company takes a holistic approach to wellbeing from early finish Fridays and weekly meditation and yoga sessions to private healthcare and an enhanced Employee Assistance Programme. This offers colleagues the reassurance of paid leave in various circumstances, such as undergoing fertility treatment or when needing support through menopause.
A monthly ‘Glee Update’ is an opportunity to share important information and celebrate employees’ stand-out work over the past month. It includes the ‘Gleeson Lottery’, where staff can nominate supportive colleagues for prizes. It’s also a chance for the team to get together in the new office bar for post-meeting drinks.
Every team member gets a day off a year to volunteer for a charity of their choice, and the company rents its rooms for a charitable donation. And Gleeson Recruitment Group is proudly more than two years ‘climate positive’ – on target to have helped plant 25,000 trees by the end of 2023.
Employees can access a new mental health hub on the company’s wellbeing platform, making it easy to explore all options for support, including the 24/7 employee assistance service. Staff can also access up to six paid-for counselling sessions. And new recruits are invited to a wellbeing afternoon, including a well-received workshop on personal resilience.
Every team member gets a monthly fun budget of £10 which can be spent on anything to encourage team building, from dinners to escape rooms. And employees who a colleague has nominated for going the extra mile could win a prize if they win the monthly vote.
More than 600 nominations were received for the company’s inaugural ‘Simply Oscars’, which aim to reward and recognise employees for their efforts. Including behaviour-related categories such as ‘guiding light’ and fun ones like ‘best dressed,’ the winners – chosen by the CEO – were announced at the end-of-year party, all receiving a £100 gift card.
Employees struggling with their mental health or specific issues can access telephone, online and counselling support via the company's Employee Assistance Programme. There are factsheets and HR support on topics such as financial wellbeing and menopause, and manager-level staff benefit from private healthcare, including online GPs. Team members also get free meals on shift.
The 'Heart of Oakman' is the company's bespoke reward and recognition scheme. It celebrates colleagues who live the values and go beyond the call of duty with instant, branded rewards chosen specifically for them and accompanied by a personalised message. The gift and the story behind it are then shared group-wide for all to see.
The Oakman Group has a proud history of supporting local community organisations and national charities – including a £25,000 donation to the Epilepsy Society. Now the company's taking a more venue-based approach to charitable giving, letting the team choose who they want to support. Good causes include hospices and animal shelters, lifeboats and food banks.
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.
The sky is the limit for Meridian Business Support's staff. They believe you don't have to have previous experience to be considered for a role, what is more important is that you demonstrate that you have the right behaviours and attitude to give something a try and they will provide the support to develop you.
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 now have access to a workplace health programme with annual health checks, online GP appointments, counselling sessions and other benefits, including health screenings and gym memberships. The company is also happy to pay if employees want to take a gym class together or hire a venue for a game of football.
Employees are recognised for their efforts and hard work with rewards and incentives. There are bonuses for passing exams and team nights out for hitting targets. And if staff recommend a candidate for a role, they can get £500, £1000, or more (depending on the seniority of the position) if they’re appointed.
Charity and community are part of the fabric at Fitzrovia IT. In the last 12 months, employees have participated in two 10k runs and raised £2000 for the MS Society. The company is always happy to match the donations or sponsorship raised by its employees.
Employees get a complimentary breakfast and fresh fruit every day. They also get longer lunch breaks so they get time to exercise without having to rush back. And each office’s ‘vibrant and contemporary feel’ is created through break-out zones and relaxing areas with activities such as table tennis and darts.
The company ensures everyone knows their role in its vision and purpose. Employees get weekly leadership round-ups that give updates and highlight performance against long-term goals. And there are team and office meetings at least three times a week to share ideas and celebrate success.
The ‘Engager of the Month’ award recognises colleagues who’ve exceeded in performance, effort and demonstrating the values. And employees who’ve gone above and beyond are treated to a meal with the directors. In addition, if sales team members hit their targets, there are vouchers, experience days and holidays for the taking.
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.
Charles Tyrwhitt recognises the importance of development to its colleagues and has recently launched a new learning platform to give colleagues easy access to self-service learning and development material. To raise colleagues self-awareness it has taken the entire workforce through their individual "Insights" profiles, which will support their working relationships with each other.
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.
Palmers is a mindful business – signed up to a 'Mindful Business Charter.' It promotes staff wellbeing and considerate communications with clients and other contacts. Staff can attend a six-week mindfulness course and a nutrition and wellness seminar and are free to use a quiet room for meditations or "time outs".
The Entertainments Committee arranges events to help employees get to know each other socially, from the annual party, trips to London and the theatre to BBQs with games and challenges. There are also charity events, including marathons and themed days. And a team-building Palmers' football team competes with other local businesses.
Local people, local businesses, employees and their families are invited to Palmers' annual Christmas carol concert in aid of its charity of the year. The firm hires a choir and band and hosts a poetry competition for school children – the winners getting to recite them to the congregation.
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.
ITGers have "focus, spark and drive", and they're supported to realise their potential and hone their skills. Development opportunities include apprenticeships, management training and ITG's in-house digital and creative academies. The agency's Circuit programme rotates students around the business over 12 months to help them find their passion. Most go on to secure permanent roles.
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.
The agency goes big on Mental Health Awareness Week with yoga, resilience and gratitude sessions and British Sign Language workshops. And everyone got an experiences voucher "to do something awesome." DesignStudio has also worked closely with Mental Health UK to offer regular training on topics such as imposter syndrome and supportive conversations.
Monthly gatherings bring the team together in new ways, from a sound bath and meditation in the office to Zoom-hosted pottery workshops and a fancy dress tribute to David Bowie. There are also competitions, such as for the 'most steps', with the victor rewarded with a National Trust membership.
There's a generous yearly training budget split amongst teams ensuring everyone can benefit. There is also a growing mentoring culture, with 10 employees joining the Creative Mentor Network to learn how to be inclusive industry leaders to support those from disadvantaged backgrounds in getting a foothold in the creative industries.
AppLearn always ensures the team has something to look forward to, from free on-site yoga and HIIT sessions to breakfast and healthy snacks. There's also a lunchtime walking club, regular competitions like monthly step count challenges, and a Tuesday night football team.
A dedicated talent acquisition partner has helped re-focus the hiring process. This has included a better understanding of unconscious bias, communicating with candidates in a structured way to reduce stress and anxiety and launching schemes and internships to boost workplace diversity, including women in tech roles.
Each department has a training budget for staff to build skills, attend courses and achieve qualifications. For employees keen to gain experience and skills in certain areas, there's the opportunity to get involved with wider business projects. For instance, staff wanting to build confidence in public speaking can present to the company.
Regular support sessions reflect real workplace concerns thanks to input from the employee voice Partnership Council, the organisation's four Inclusion Networks and the latest absence and turnover trends. Recent sessions have included a myth-buster on vaccines and infection control, and balancing work and family commitments.
There are development opportunities for every stage of leadership. These include courses for aspiring managers in partnership with University College Birmingham, front-line manager training and a 12-month Cranfield University training programme for senior leaders. Managers also benefit from ongoing support through coaching, mentoring and cross-functional management meetings.
Midland Heart is an early adopter of the Sustainability Reporting Standard for Social Housing to benefit its communities and the wider environment. It also looks to recycle wherever possible, whether that's the maintenance team separating waste before disposal or its development partners reusing old roof tiles when building new homes.
There are plenty of opportunities for employees to top up their cash pot. Those rated ‘outstanding’ at their end of year reviews can ‘Grab a Grand.’ There are also long-service rewards and monetary prizes, including for 'etHERO of the month', suggesting ideas implemented by the business and during games and team events.
From day one, all employees are encouraged to reach their potential. There is flexibility to support them to develop in whatever area they choose, and job rotation is encouraged to boost skills and support succession planning. A new role has been created, focusing specifically on employee learning and development.
On passing probation, staff receive health benefits which include an Employee Assistance Programme and private health cover, with a cash-back option and the chance to add their families for a small additional cost. And working hours have been cut by one and a quarter hours a week with no change to salaries.
Employee support takes many forms. It includes training so they feel more confident handling demanding customers or challenging safeguarding or domestic abuse situations. There are also more informal opportunities, such as virtual 'open space' sessions where managers can share their experiences and knowledge, and the Wednesday Wellbeing Walk. Counselling services are also available.
All staff, from Board to team members, are encouraged to develop their emotional intelligence. A colour-based psychometric tool helps them better understand their style, strengths and the value they bring. It also supports managers in building high-performing teams. And employee development is continually reviewed through one-to-ones and appraisals.
The Trust provides two community hub buildings for groups to use free of charge for holiday and social activities, youth clubs, food banks and warm hubs. Through its social value project, it's also supported the set-up of a community laundry and an outdoor learning space and has helped deliver anti-social behaviour impact awareness sessions.
Employee wellbeing underpins day-to-day life at Staysure Group. There's a dedicated quarterly newsletter, trained mental health first aiders, wellbeing champions, a wellbeing room for staff in need of quiet time and walking route maps for those who could do with stepping away from their desks and getting some fresh air and exercise.
Online channels and apps keep everyone part of the social goings-on and activities, even if they're not in the office. They're also forums for people to comment and share ideas. At Christmas, small local businesses were invited to sell their products – an event encouraging staff into the office.
When employees get excellent service, they're encouraged to hand out 'we're looking for great people like you' cards showcasing Staysure job opportunities. Everyone who accepts a job offer gets a welcome pack, including a travel mug and snacks. And they get paid a 'set up' day, so they're ready to go on their first day.
Staff have access to an external coach for personal or career-related advice and internal counsellors, who offer counselling support or general conversation about work or personal matters. There are also Speak Up Guardians who staff can go to if they have work-related concerns that affect their health. A wellbeing app offers a variety of resources.
A cost-of-living payment has been made to staff and supermarket vouchers are available. Enhanced sick pay is available and staff receive 25 days' leave a year, plus eight bank holidays. The organisation also gives staff the opportunity to buy or sell up to one week's holiday per year.
The trust is working to ensure its work incorporates a greener, eco-friendly output, including ground, air and water-source heat pumps, solar panels and the infrastructure to support electric vehicles. It is also working on a carbon-zero strategy and action plan.
On the Slack platform there are social channels for specific interests, ranging from recipes and reading — to cats. There’s also a working-from-home channel that provides a social space for sharing tips, anecdotes and news. The optional Slack Donut app pairs people randomly for a weekly chat.
Glean knows that wellbeing and work-life balance go hand-in-hand, so it makes sure staff protect theirs by providing flexible hours, muting notifications from 6pm-8am and giving them three days’ holiday to recharge at Christmas, on top of their 33 days’ annual leave. The company also offers a cash-back healthcare scheme.
The company donated £10,000 to charities, including education bodies and those nominated by staff. A one-off contribution was made in response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and Glean supported its staff Pride group by paying for its entry to the Pride parade in Leeds.
To encourage a good work-life balance, the leadership team demonstrates that employees' home lives are just as important as work. Leaders bring their children in on company calls, make a point of doing something personal during the day and set the tone by promoting the idea that no one can do it all.
At SF the environment is high on the agenda. The organisation has ditched single-use plastics in favour of bamboo, a more sustainable material. Plastic water bottles and cutlery is banned, along with straws, bubble wrap and business card boxes. Stricter recycling methods have been brought in at all of its offices.
Staff can decide when they work their contracted hours so they can balance their work and home life more effectively. Greater emphasis has been placed on choosing to work when they are at their most productive. The 30 days’ annual leave entitlement is supplemented by ad-hoc company days off, especially when the workload is high.
Awareness sessions on subjects such as social wellbeing, mortgages, financial wellness, menopause, women’s health, infertility, pregnancy and baby loss, stress management, resilience, hybrid working, nutrition, children’s wellbeing, mental health in the LGBTQ+ community, anxiety, meditation and mindfulness are part of the firm's wellbeing offering.
The firm offers a generous pension that provides the option to salary sacrifice. Staff are given five weeks' annual leave and can buy or sell a week each year. An extra day is given for weddings/civil partnerships, religious holidays and house moving. Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay is also available.
A range of training methods are used, including formal courses, mentoring, coaching, e-learning, action-learning sets and videos. As well as structured training programmes for all areas of the business, the learning and development team provides informal training and support on demand, such as a five-minute chat before an important client meeting.
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