As an Employee Ownership Trust, Assael Architecture’s ethos is ‘to provide an environment that promotes respect, integrity, transparency and collaboration between all staff at all levels’.  

The pandemic has only highlighted Assael’s culture and these values have underpinned what they’ve been doing to keep staff well, motivated and engaged.

Assael provide continual IT support and budgets for chairs, desks and monitors for homeworking along with Covid-safe office opened after the first lockdown, enabling staff to work from the office if struggling with mental health.

The organisation sends out newsletters (at least weekly) with transparent information, light-hearted ‘takeovers’ and creative challenges. Also weekly team catch-ups and Friday socials on Zoom. Staff are consulted and invited to feedback on all decisions, for example on pay reductions or feelings on an office return.

Assael has many wellbeing initiatives including; regular HR check-ins, monthly ‘Tea & Talks’, time off in lieu to ensure work/life balance, fortnightly furloughed forums, fortnightly resource meetings and cross-team collaboration; this, plus staff suggestions, led to everyone, including directors, being on part-time furlough. This ensured wellbeing wasn’t jeopardised by either long hours or being furloughed full-time  

The organisation promotes flexible working to work around childcare or the best routine that works for them; some are night owls, others are early birds and organises charitable activities that continued to help boost wellbeing by helping others, with virtual quizzes, running challenges and ‘Battle of the Studios’ with points awarded for charitable deeds and exercise.

Assael is known for their longstanding benefits – career development, bonuses, enhanced maternity and paternity, trips abroad, and five and ten-year service awards – but the most significant ‘benefit’ has been their EOT ethos – they’re all in this together.