A business founded on creating an environment in which people can learn, CragRats takes pride in fostering an environment that makes its employees feel at home. "Walking into CragRats is like walking into my own front room," says education manager Chris Simes. The vast majority of staff agree, giving the firm an 82% positive score for its strong sense of family. They say they love working for the organisation (83%) and that their teams are fun to work with (89%). Founded in 1989, CragRats is a learning organisation dedicated to changing attitudes and behaviour, and it uses a variety of methods to achieve its aims. Innovative learning techniques include live drama and workshops to engage individuals and transform organisations. The largest provider of education programmes in the UK, CragRats communicates key messages in the fields of learning for young people, schools and educational professionals. Channels of communication are varied and include regular company meetings, which can be called by any member of staff, plus e-mails and newsletters. Managing director Dave Bradley makes himself available to everyone within the organisation and directors frequently move desks in the company's open-plan office. In our survey employees give managers a 78% positive score for communicating openly and honestly and staff feel they are fully involved at work (80%). As a training company the firm strongly believes that if people show the potential and the desire to change career paths then it will support and encourage them. Examples include an actor who now heads the firm's educational sales team and a human resources manager who joined the business as a chef. This is probably why employees feel the firm is good for personal growth (79%). CragRats knows that providing a good work/life balance ensures a productive and happy workforce. Staff are given paid time off for family emergencies and the firm offers life coaches to assist development, while head massages and t'ai chi classes are also available to staff.
