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When it was forced to close its offices in the first lockdown, construction consultancy Baily Garner managed to get all staff successfully set up to work from home in less three and a half days, with team members helping to transport hardware to others homes.
The solution-focused firm, which employs more than 190 people across offices in London and Birmingham, serving clients nationwide, has given a significant number of laptops to staff to work in a more agile way.
Founded in 1976, the company culture is based on openness, availability and face-to-face communication but it was able to maintain close communication across the business during the pandemic by setting up regular practice briefings by the Managing Partner, Andy Tookey.
Monthly one-to-ones for all staff with their line manager continued and in addition each team meets weekly to discuss their workload with wellbeing always the first on the agenda.
Baily Garner, which started as a building surveying partnership providing professional services to housing associations and local authorities now works across sectors from housing and education to care and health on projects ranging in value from £5,000 to more than £400m.
The firm's Grow Your Own ethos has served it well. The mid-size firm nurtures raw talent, putting attitude and a good fit ahead of qualifications and its policy of promoting from within is reflected in the fact that a significant number of current partners joined the organisation in junior roles.
