Wellbeing

MOI Global

MOI's Culture Club aims to create a culture of wellbeing. Its projects include Time to Talk, which is a safe space to talk openly, resources on the intranet to allow staff to be heard and gain support, training in mental health support and awareness, and social events, including team-building and wellness activities.

MOI’s philosophy is to support, encourage, train, guide, inspire and reward an individual’s journey and success in the agency. Staff are enrolled in a "discovery insights" programme to identify their strengths, weaknesses and what makes them tick. Inspirational training programmes and the sharing of insights help staff to increase their knowledge within their role.

The culture revolves around creating change and celebrating the fact that everyone’s different. That’s why MOI created its employee recognition scheme, Making Heroes. It’s a platform where employees can nominate their peers to receive kudos and rewards for their work ethic, enthusiasm and collaboration.

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Marketing & Media Agencies

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Ultimate Products

The company has set up a new reading corner to offer a quiet spot for staff to take some time out on breaks to read. It offers a library of books to choose from and take home. Reading has benefits for mental well-being, including reducing stress, improving sleep and boosting emotional intelligence.

Internal training concentrates on improving skills, such as getting to grips with Excel. External training provides staff with fresh and innovative learning that cannot be done in-house. Mentors play a critical role in coaching new joiners. Digital training aims to cover standard subjects required for new staff and refresher courses for others.

Last year the company raised almost £25,000 for the MS Society. This year it delivered 32 pallets of donations to the Polish border to aid Ukraine and raised more than £500 for the cause. It also made Easter egg donations to Oldham Children's Services. This year it has been raising cash for Oldham Foodbank.

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Manufacturing

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Whitby Wood

The company has introduced a flexible working policy of three days in the office and two at home per week, and adjusted its core hours to allow people to start later or finish earlier than the typical nine-to-five working day. It has also organised more non-work activities such as yoga and a football team.

Professional-development reviews are undertaken twice a year between staff and their line managers. The first, at the start of the year, provides an opportunity to discuss personal progress and goals. It also acts as a forum to discuss working satisfaction. The company runs an Institution of Civil Engineers accredited training plan.

Central to Whitby Wood is a grass-roots engagement with young prospective engineers. The company nurtures them and they become ambassadors for the business at university, often helping to recruit a further cohort. They are offered work experience during their holidays and sponsorship of their fees.

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Construction & Engineering

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University of Bolton

There are two mental health e-learning training packages available to staff and students and two mental health first-aiders on site. An employee assistance programme offers support, advice and information. Confidential counselling and online cognitive behavioural therapy sessions are provided.

Team away-days take place at the group's outdoor activity centre, the Anderton Centre, in Rivington, Lancashire's mini Lake District. Managers work in partnership with centre staff to run water- and land-based adventure and problem-solving activities as team-building exercises.

The University of Bolton Group donated 50 bikes to Ukrainian refugees in the town, so that they are not reliant on their hosts for transports. It also pioneered a free legal advice centre to support the Bolton community. It was staffed by law students and overseen by lecturers, .

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Education & Training

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PebblePad

Team building days are conducted periodically. A team gets together in the office to spend time with each other, review their workloads and discuss next steps. The days include a team lunch and provide the chance to learn together and boost team spirit.

As part of a move by to improve organisational clarity, new staff are given a buddy. The buddy provides discreet, non-judgemental pastoral support and helps them to acclimatise to the new environment. For the rest of the team, quarterly "all-hands-on" reviews bring the opportunity for senior leaders and team members to ask questions.

PebblePad has a wellness policy offering two days per year for employees to focus on self-care. There is also a 'Wellbeing Workgroup', a team of volunteers from across the business who raise and discuss wellbeing initiatives, including mental health first aiders at work, a wellness policy and raising awareness of World Mental Health Day.

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Technology

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Hilton Smythe Commercial

Senior management have changed their vehicles to hybrid and fully electric cars and there are electrical charging points fitted at the business. The company is also planting trees to offset its carbon footprint.

The company aims to ensure that when staff request time off at short notice, it can be accommodated. Close communication has been kept with anybody who is suffering using texts or taking them out for lunch or coffee to engage in supportive conversation.

A visit to a theme park makes up the annual team-building event, and there are others during the year to enhance communication between colleagues. Engagement is also encouraged through Christmas parties, early finishes, dress-down days, exclusive discounts and free treats and gift vouchers for good customer service feedback.

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Business Services

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Understanding Recruitment

At Director’s Question Time, employees can submit questions anonymously, via an online platform about the present and future plans for the business, on topics such as growth, development, career paths, and benefits.

Understanding Recruitment has been trying to attract more women, particularly more experienced female employees by looking at benefits offered, such as maternity — and paternity — pay, flexible working, and part-time positions. It has also joined Women in Recruitment, an initiative that helps with attracting, developing and retaining female talent.

Each team has a budget for a "wellness day" so they can enjoy an activity and a meal out together. Unlimited holiday is offered to staff who have been with the company for two years, and after five and 10 years they can take a sabbatical.

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Recruitment

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Torchbox

The company launched its first Torchbox academy for entry-level roles. It aims to appeal to candidates from diverse backgrounds and encourage people to apply regardless of their backgrounds by using a CV-less approach. Information about this approach was posted in a wide variety of places to target a larger pool of candidates.

Torchbox increased its annual leave allowance this year and introduced flexible bank holidays to allow people more control over their work-life balance. It has also introduced a holiday buy-and-sell scheme to give people with different lifestyles the time away from work that they need.

Lattice, a performance-management system, provides a framework and the tools to guide managers in how to work in a positive and consistent way with their teams. A learning library comes with each tool, providing tips and resources. The new head of human resources is tasked with reviewing the management structure and ensuring clarity within roles.

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Marketing & Media Agencies

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The Fostering Network

Every staff member has a personal development plan that identifies a clear pathway to address skills, experience, knowledge or professional growth. It may include a range of learning activities, such as online training, mentoring, coaching, classroom training, shadowing, setting aside reading time, conferences and secondments.

An "e-goodie bag" filled with wellbeing activities for staff and their families, is given to everyone. It is designed for staff to take control of their mental and physical health. Included in it is expert advice and practical tips, using resources such as the NHS Choice Moodzone and Every Mind Matters websites.

Informal video conference meetings take place and "silent" video meetings allow teams to log on at the same time and work individually, but interact informally with other team members as if they were in the office.

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Charity's

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Socitm Advisory

Days to build physical and mental wellbeing through outdoor activities are hosted at the Socitm Woodland. A Strava club encourages people to be active and there is a book club to encourage more cerebral activity. Lunch and learn sessions cover a variety of topics, including menopause support and managing during the cost-of-living crisis.

The virtual kitchen has proved popular since it was launched. It gives all staff a place to drop in, hang out and build team morale. Daily huddles and weekly retrospectives have been introduced throughout the business to ensure good communication and information sharing.

Last year, a leadership development programme was launched. It is designed to support the management team and develop them into future leaders of the business. The programme is written and delivered by leaders and blends online learning with workshops. Internal and external mentorship will support participants.

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Consultancy

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Wellbeing Matters

MOI Global

Ultimate Products

Whitby Wood

University of Bolton

PebblePad

Hilton Smythe Commercial

Understanding Recruitment

Torchbox

The Fostering Network

Socitm Advisory

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