PRACTICE PLAN SUCCEEDS in putting a bit of poetry into the dental business. The clues in a recent team-building treasure hunt pub crawl for its 79 employees were written in rhyming verse. The firm administers private dental membership plans, tailored and branded to individual practices, from two offices in Oswestry, Shropshire. It insists on “constantly challenging the norm”, saying: “We zig where others zag.” There's an energetic feel to this firm, which has been a Best Company since 2010. Staff put the firm in the top 10 among small companies for making sure they avoid feeling exhausted at the end of the day, with a positive score of 64%. The firm offers fresh fruit, free drinks and subsidised gym membership. Everyone was allowed to join in the flag-waving when the Olympic torch visited the town, and fitter members of staff trained for four months to enter the gruelling 26-mile Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge for charity. Practice Plan supports its local community (76%). After taking out a newspaper advertisement asking for opportunities to volunteer, the firm has become an associate member of the Osyteers, a local charity. Employees are offered one paid day a year to work on its projects, such as gardening for the elderly or painting community centres. The firm also supports Bridge2Aid, a dental charity in developing countries. Staff are satisfied the company has worthier motives than good publicity (75%, a top 20 score). The firm does what it can to protect the environment too (81%), encouraging people to work from home, use public transport or cycle to work, and buying “green” energy. The firm began as a family business. Following a management buyout in 2005 it has grown steadily, offering dental practices a wide range of business support and acquiring two other companies last year. Nick Dilworth, the managing director, updates both offices and regional managers who work from home, and people have a great deal of faith in him (92%). Employees do not feel the business could use more of their skills (68%, a top 20 score) and there are opportunities to ask “burning questions” or suggest changes anonymously.
