Best Companies Factors: Wellbeing

Lintbells | Home of YuMOVE

This year the company ran its first "away two-days". On the second day, staff took part in dragon boat racing. Teams were made up of staff who had never worked together, so that people came together and did something fun and competitive. The evening entertainment included band-a-oke, when staff could sing with a live band.

A running club support to physical health is run by staff. Anyone can join, whether they are a seasoned runner or someone who is just starting out. The company also organises walks around its beautiful farm location in the Hertfordshire countryside.

The company likes to give consistent feedback and recognition to staff and has introduced the SPOT awards. Anyone in the business can give a SPOT award to another employee if they have gone the extra mile. Managers are encouraged to give regular feedback to staff at one-to-ones and in team meetings.

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Manufacturing

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Landbay

'Timeout Tuesday' events allow staff to take time out of their working day to focus on their wellbeing by taking part in activities such as massage, yoga, and workshops and webinars. The events are chosen by employees during surveys. Fitness challenges are also staged during the year, including a Tough Mudder run for charity.

Tuesday is a mandatory office day so that everyone can come together for the weekly stand-up meeting, when senior leaders let staff know what is going on, how things are progressing and what support is available. Social events, such as team lunches and dinners, quiz evenings, games nights and other activities bring people together informally.

Chief Executive, John Goodall, has established an open and collaborative working environment and has a strong, inspirational presence within the company. He sits with the teams in the open-plan office. Senior leaders make sure that all staff are communicated with honestly and believe in the importance of everyone having a voice.

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Financial Services

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Eton Bridge Partners

Eton Bridge's wellbeing team, which was launched two years ago, has driven a range of initiatives. Eight social clubs have been set up, including those for HIIT training, cycling, recipe sharing, walking and a book club. It has also hosted group conversations around mental health and sponsored three mental health first-aiders.

Walkie-talkie meetings, which were set up during the pandemic, have continued, as the company found that they enhanced its culture and the wellbeing of staff. It has also increased the number of team-building days. One team took part in dragon boat racing on the Thames.

Last year, a team used one of their charity days to transform the overgrown sensory garden at the Riverside Children’s Centre, in Maidenhead. They worked hard to turn it into an area that could be enjoyed by the families using the centre's services.

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Recruitment

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Energize Group

Energize continued to hire in 2020 and also ran five new starter programmes, two advanced courses, two senior leadership programmes and two future leader programmes. Other development opportunities included a mental health first aid course, external sales training, webinars and new modules such as creating a positive mindset.

To maintain high levels of morale, Energize organised virtual social events including quizzes, awards and the annual charity auction. A focus on fitness led to activities including the Energize Olympics, virtual yoga sessions, Wellbeing Wednesday and a company-wide activity based charity fundraising challenge.

In 2020 Energize partnered with Reach Out Mentoring, a charity that gives young people from disadvantaged backgrounds weekly 1-2-1 support from a volunteer mentor. In addition to committing to providing volunteers the firm also raised almost £7,000 through a range of fundraising activities.

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Recruitment

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Creaseys

The Creaseys' team chose the Good Neighbour Project as its charity partner. The project supports vulnerable and isolated people in its community. As part of this, the firm organised an afternoon tea for the charity's clients and their befrienders, and donated money it would have spent on a Christmas tree to the charity.

Maintaining a healthy work/life balance is of paramount importance to Creaseys. The firm insist that every team member has a wellbeing objective to ensure a work/life balance that’s right for them, and the wellbeing team have organised various activities for the team, from breakfast treats to yoga classes and a bring-your-dog-to-work day.

Best practice and the best approach to team development is discussed in bi-weekly team leader meetings facilitated by the People Department. Managers can ask for specific support from their peers on how to tackle specific issues within their own groups as well as attend training workshops specific topics.

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Accountancy

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Cook Recruitment Group

Staff are experiencing less stress at work and greater job satisfaction thanks to various fatigue-busting initiatives. These include journals for more effective planning, duvet days and more regular breaks away from the desk. Employees can use the on-site gym or enjoy discounted rates at local fitness centres.

Initiatives are bringing staff together across the divisions, promoting team cohesion, interaction and a sharing of interests. The Employee of The Month scheme now sees staff voting for the winners. And a newly-built patio has encouraged staff to chat, socialise and build stronger working relationships.

All staff can take advantage of training and mentoring schemes. The company's trainee academy focuses on giving employment and development opportunities to people new to the recruitment industry. It wants to establish home-grown talent grounded in the agency's values that can then go on to coach others.

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Recruitment

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Circus Street

Circus Street’s leading mental health, fitness, and nutrition tools provide a holistic approach to the wellbeing of colleagues. Employees can visit an in-house nutritionist, attend workshops on sleep and diet, or join workout sessions including boxing and yoga. They also have access to private health insurance.

Keeping colleagues informed and energised is a priority. Coupled with a Circus Street newsletter, employees attend quarterly town hall gatherings, where the leadership team provides performance updates, as well as discussing exciting projects and team news.

Colleagues enjoy six days per year dedicated to their personal development, ensuring their skills keep ahead of the ever-changing digital curve. As part of this initiative, they benefit from access to external mentors, as well as having the opportunity to discuss career progression goals at focus groups.

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Education & Training

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Sustainable Energy First

The company's "balance time" policy is a flexible working model that allows staff to balance their hours over a month, rather than having core hours. It allows people to rest, take time out with family or to exercise, and regain balance in their lives. Hours worked overtime can be used to take time off.

During a learning and development survey this year, staff asked for training in the energy industry and technical knowledge. They also wanted help with personal skills, including confidence, assertiveness and emotional intelligence. The company responded by running its first group coaching programme with an external partner.

Free breakfast, refreshment supplies, bike storage and changing facilities, pizza Fridays, a recreation floor and staff library, make Sustainable Energy First an outstanding place to work, the company says. Staff respond by looking after clients and the community with the same care for their wellbeing.

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Consultancy

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Aspire

Locally-based employees get free membership to the leisure centre. Those further afield are offered a Zoom membership where they can take part in more than 30 fitness classes a week. Staff also get access to wellbeing awareness webinars on topics such as mental health and menopause.

All staff are in the running for colleague-nominated employee and team of the month awards. Individual winners get a voucher and the chance to go on to win employee of the year at the annual awards. These also include other accolades such as top fundraiser and volunteer of the year.

Employees are encouraged to discuss their development and training needs with their line manager at each annual performance review. These may include training to be a lifeguard, swimming teacher or gym instructor under the apprentice leisure assistant programme or executive development training for more senior staff.

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Charity's

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Willmott Dixon

Seventy-five per cent of employees are making lifestyle changes based on their results from a free annual workplace-based health check. Common themes that have emerged across the workforce have led to the company starting a monthly walking group and giving staff water bottles to encourage them to drink more.

As a thank you for hard work and loyalty, staff can access a £750 Personal Learning Fund after five years of service. They can spend it on learning a new skill, such as language and photography classes or other support. This could include fitness training or NCT classes to prepare them for a new baby.

The company’s Women’s Leadership programme, which includes mentoring and a course at Cambridge University, aims to create a pipeline of 150 female leaders in Willmott Dixon and its supply chain over the next 10 years. More than 30 women have benefitted so far, with more than half being promoted to senior leadership positions.

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Construction & Engineering

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Wellbeing Matters

Lintbells | Home of YuMOVE

Landbay

Eton Bridge Partners

Energize Group

Creaseys

Cook Recruitment Group

Circus Street

Sustainable Energy First

Aspire

Willmott Dixon

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