THE FOUNDING PRINCIPLE of Harbour Support Services is that all women have the right to live free from violence and abuse. This guides the work of its 144 employees, who helped more than 3,000 individuals and families suffering domestic abuse in 2015. Helping its staff is key, too, as exemplified by the Hartlepool-based charity's commitment to training and development. The organisation committed £400 per employee last year on staff education. Half of the staff use paid time off to study and receive financial support for work-related qualifications. Compassion for those affected by domestic abuse is an important quality looked for in its recruits. An induction mentor supports new starters alongside their manager. The on-the-job training is greatly beneficial, according to employees, scoring this measure 83% positive and ranking it third among small organisations on our list. Staff also believe that a job at Harbour is good for personal growth (79%). Colleagues get on well here, their relationships helped by regular meetings and development days. Teams are fun to work with (88%) and the work is interesting (83%, ranked sixth). www.myharbour.org.uk
