Best Companies | Foresters Friendly Society Company Profile

"Your friend through life” is what Foresters Friendly Society aims to be for its members. The organisation, which offers “straightforward financial solutions with a human touch”, has an ambition to help people make the most of their lives.

Founded in 1834, the Southampton-based mutual's main purpose has remained the same throughout its existence – to provide financial and social support to its members. It treats all members like individuals, offering products that it says are “useful, competitive and straightforward.”

Foresters Friendly Society has seen a surge in demand for its products and services, achieving outstanding premium income growth. CEO, Rachel Hardy, praised the Foresters team for its achievement and “commitment to working hard and providing a first-class service for our existing and new members.”

Foresters Friendly Society has an ethos of putting people first, and says it offers a number of benefits for employees, not least a friendly, relaxed and pleasant environment to work in, as well as an active social calendar offering fun events throughout the year.

Placing a focus on the wellbeing of their people, employees are encouraged to take regular breaks throughout the day, as well as switching off in the evenings to maintain a healthy work - life balance.

A spotlight on

Foresters Friendly Society

View the latest achievements

Giving Something Back

94% of staff agreed

My organisation encourages charitable activities

The organisation participates in a wide range of charitable activities in aid of its High Chief Ranger's charity, each year. In addition to this, the organisation also decided to make a charitable donation to a local charity chosen by employees, for each Best Companies survey completed.

Personal Growth

72% of staff agreed

This job is good for my own personal growth

Putting Personal Growth at the forefront of the business, Foresters Friendly Society is proud to be an organisation that has a structured Employee Performance Review process in place each year. Employees are also given access to online training programmes, ad-hoc training sessions and take advantage of opportunities made available by the Association of Financial Mutuals.

Leadership

84% of staff agreed

This organisation is run on strong values / principles

Quarterly staff briefings over Teams update employees on financial results and strategic projects, with the company CEO also sending out regular updates on other areas of interest such as the recent office move. Monthly Staff Engagement Group meetings between leaders and Selected Staff Representatives, provide the opportunity for staff to anonymously raise questions and concerns.

Giving Something Back

94% of staff agreed

My organisation encourages charitable activities

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Giving Something Back

Best Practice

Personal Growth

82%

72% of staff agreed

This job is good for my own personal growth

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Personal Growth

Best Practice

Leadership

96%

84% of staff agreed

This organisation is run on strong values / principles

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Leadership

Best Practice

Organisation established in

1834

Total number of UK employees

Number of UK locations

Employee average age

40% : 60%

Male : Female employee ratio

33%

Employees earning £35k+

Employee turnover (voluntary)

Quote from the top...

“We are committed to be recognised as an employer that cares about doing things right, that values our people and that understands the importance of a truly engaged workforce. We have evidenced this in practice through the recent introduction of an employee assistance programme, employee benefits platform and enhanced colleague training provision such as 360 feedback and mental health awareness. Best Companies have accredited us as ‘One to Watch’ following our first staff survey with them at the end of 2020 and we hope to continue to demonstrate to our staff why we are worthy of such an accolade and why they should continue to want to work with us.”

Rachel Hardy, Chief Executive - Foresters Friendly Society

Development

Companies that provide support to all employees for non-work related training.

Family-friendly

Companies offering school hours contracts to all staff.

Long Service

Companies where at least 40% of the staff have worked there for more than five years.

Private Healthcare

Companies offering private health insurance to all employees.

Women in Senior Management

At least 40% of senior managers are women.

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