Officially a Very Good
Company to Work For
Officially a Very Good
Company to Work For
Officially an Outstanding
Company to Work For
Officially an Outstanding
Company to Work For
Officially a World Class
Company to Work For
Officially a World Class
Company to Work For
Officially a Good
Company to Work For
Officially a Good
Company to Work For
Officially a Global*
Good Company
to Work For
Officially a Good
Company to Work For
Globally*
Legal speak has no place at Keoghs, the insurance and business law specialist based in Bolton and Coventry — the buzzwords there are fairness, plain-speaking and friendliness.
Four years ago, Keoghs was a high-street law firm with six Victorian offices in Bolton and Paul Smith was a biochemist-turned-accountant at a chemical company. Then Keoghs' partners decided to invest in a new direction, recruited Smith as chief executive, even though he was not a lawyer, and commissioned new offices.
Smith's expansive business strategy and employee focus have brought steadily growing annual sales and a staff culture that only gets better — the firm has jumped from last year's number 49 to 25th in our survey.
Smith talks new recruits through the company's policies and staff feel they have a strong role to play in its success — 84% say they can make a valuable contribution to the business, the fifth-highest score for this question. More than four-fifths are proud to work there and a similar number are excited about the direction in which the firm is moving, although a relatively high 43% believe that profit is the only thing driving the company.
There is a good team spirit among employees. More than three-quarters say they love working for Keoghs, barely 17% say team members don't care for each other and 83% say they laugh a lot with colleagues.
Keoghs scored exceptionally well on its low stress levels, and although half the employees surveyed say they come home exhausted, fewer than 17% of staff suffered ill effects in the past year because of the pressure of work, the third-lowest score. This may be partly because the company offers flexible working on request, and stress and time-management courses are available.
More than three-quarters of staff say their manager supports them when they need to learn new skills, which no doubt contributes to a healthy 71% of staff saying they find their work stimulating.
The benefits package is good, with profit-related pay for all employees, private healthcare and life insurance for all and a non-contributory pension rising from 5% to 10% of salary after 10 years of service. Just under two-thirds feel fairly paid compared with others in similar positions in legal firms, and a similar number say they are fairly paid compared with their colleagues at Keoghs.
My work is an important part of my life
Keoghs offer a number of ways for staff to offer ideas and feedback and work hard to encourage a two way information flow. Communication options available include: Internal newsletters (staff are encouraged to send in content), Daily business communications (a daily email issued to all staff covering a variety of topics – often used to promote opportunities for feedback), Surveys (undertaken for a range of topics from where to hold the staff Christmas party to feelings on particular issues going on within the firm), Forums (offers staff the ability to post questions to the Board which can be done anonymously if preferred), Meetings – Business update meetings are held quarterly, staff are encouraged to send in their questions prior to the event and are given the opportunity to ask questions at the meetings themselves. Surveys are then circulated to ask for feedback on the issues raised. Team meetings are also a great opportunity to gain feedback from staff in person.
People in my team go out of their way to help me
Keoghs have recently funded heavily in all their Team Leaders attending a Team Leadership Development Programme. This course was designed to run over 4 days over 4 months and consists of the following modules; Leading Teams, Developing High Performing Teams, Coaching and Engaging Teams. Each Team Leader upon completing the four modules is asked to do a work based project to be presented to a Business Unit Director. All Team Leaders and the Team Leaders of the future have attended this course which has been a great success.
This organisation is run on strong values / principles
Keoghs offer a number of ways for staff to offer ideas and feedback and work hard to encourage a two way information flow. Communication options available include: Internal newsletters (staff are encouraged to send in content), Daily business communications (a daily email issued to all staff covering a variety of topics – often used to promote opportunities for feedback), Surveys (undertaken for a range of topics from where to hold the staff Christmas party to feelings on particular issues going on within the firm), Forums (offers staff the ability to post questions to the Board which can be done anonymously if preferred), Meetings – Business update meetings are held quarterly, staff are encouraged to send in their questions prior to the event and are given the opportunity to ask questions at the meetings themselves. Surveys are then circulated to ask for feedback on the issues raised. Team meetings are also a great opportunity to gain feedback from staff in person.
My work is an important part of my life
Keoghs offer a number of ways for staff to offer ideas and feedback and work hard to encourage a two way information flow. Communication options available include: Internal newsletters (staff are encouraged to send in content), Daily business communications (a daily email issued to all staff covering a variety of topics – often used to promote opportunities for feedback), Surveys (undertaken for a range of topics from where to hold the staff Christmas party to feelings on particular issues going on within the firm), Forums (offers staff the ability to post questions to the Board which can be done anonymously if preferred), Meetings – Business update meetings are held quarterly, staff are encouraged to send in their questions prior to the event and are given the opportunity to ask questions at the meetings themselves. Surveys are then circulated to ask for feedback on the issues raised. Team meetings are also a great opportunity to gain feedback from staff in person.
People in my team go out of their way to help me
Keoghs have recently funded heavily in all their Team Leaders attending a Team Leadership Development Programme. This course was designed to run over 4 days over 4 months and consists of the following modules; Leading Teams, Developing High Performing Teams, Coaching and Engaging Teams. Each Team Leader upon completing the four modules is asked to do a work based project to be presented to a Business Unit Director. All Team Leaders and the Team Leaders of the future have attended this course which has been a great success.
My work is an important part of my life
Keoghs offer a number of ways for staff to offer ideas and feedback and work hard to encourage a two way information flow. Communication options available include: Internal newsletters (staff are encouraged to send in content), Daily business communications (a daily email issued to all staff covering a variety of topics – often used to promote opportunities for feedback), Surveys (undertaken for a range of topics from where to hold the staff Christmas party to feelings on particular issues going on within the firm), Forums (offers staff the ability to post questions to the Board which can be done anonymously if preferred), Meetings – Business update meetings are held quarterly, staff are encouraged to send in their questions prior to the event and are given the opportunity to ask questions at the meetings themselves. Surveys are then circulated to ask for feedback on the issues raised. Team meetings are also a great opportunity to gain feedback from staff in person.
Companies offering at least 10 weeks’ full pay or generous alternative.
Companies offering a final salary scheme to all employees, or one in which the employer's contribution is at least 5%.
Companies offering private health insurance to all employees.
At least 40% of senior managers are women.
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