A PERSON-CENTRED approach to flexible working ensures a strong sense of wellbeing at The BMT Group. Once members of staff at the engineering consultancy are allocated to a project, they will keep a record of the time spent working and the time owed in lieu. They then agree with their manager how and when this leave is taken. The approach is very effective for increasing levels of motivation and satisfaction. In our survey staff say they have a great deal of support from their managers, with a 79% positive score. Most days, they don't feel exhausted when they arrive home from work (53%). Both scores achieve 15th place nationally. Founded in 1985 and based in Teddington, Middlesex, BMT is a leading international design, engineering, science and technology consultancy offering a broad range of solutions to customers in the defence, energy and environment and transport sectors. Effective management seems to be the cornerstone of this organisation's success. Whether it's working out flexible working options or personal development plans or just offering support, bosses have regular meetings with employees. Managers get a top 10 national result for listening in our survey (75%) and staff feel they can talk openly and honestly with them (81%). Naturally, the firm also welcomes mums back to work in a flexible capacity, and any extra nursery time will be paid for by BMT if the mother has to stay late or work extra hours to meet a deadline. As a result, few stress-related symptoms are reported within the past 12 months (75%) and staff don't feel under too much pressure to perform well (74%, and a top 20 score). In 2010, to celebrate its 25th anniversary, the firm launched a philanthropic project called BMT Giveback. All staff were invited to suggest ways to use the company's technical, scientific and engineering capabilities to make a difference to the lives of people in developing countries. The winning idea was the design and implementation of a low-cost sewage treatment system for a rural village in India. The project was a technical challenge, with BMT engineers designing a novel system that will work with very low water flows and be easy to maintain by local people. Staff say that the company's support of worthy causes is not driven by a desire for publicity (65%, ranked 17th), borne out by the fact that BMT gave the new design to an international development charity which will seek to implement it elsewhere to the benefit of thousands of people. www.bmt.org
