Staff feel they are firmly in the driving seat at transport consultancy Steer Davies Gleave (SDG) after the recent transfer of ownership from the directors and senior associates to employees. "It's our company, collectively," says Stephen Crouch, who, in the space of two years at SDG, has progressed from finance director to deputy managing director. Staff are proud to work for the organisation, earning SDG an 85% positive score. SDG founder Jim Steer is now on the board of the company and has seen it expand considerably over the past five years. The organisation, which has new offices in Canada, New Zealand and Glasgow, has about 350 people working worldwide. Video and telephone conferences and visits by directors to other offices ensure staff on the other side of the world are fully involved and do not feel neglected. "We are continually striving to make things better — both in how we work as a business and how we work with our clients," says head of sales and marketing Nadine Kayser, who has been with the company for six years. And if high-profile clients are anything to go by, SDG is succeeding. Recent triumphs include transport planning for the new Emirates stadium for Arsenal football club, and being involved in London's successful 2012 Olympics bid. Health and fitness are high on SDG's list of priorities when it comes to caring for staff, and the company runs several sports teams. Health MoTs, fruit in abundance and an emphasis on cycling to work are all part of the initiative. Fundraising and charity events are commonplace. The company raises money for charity through sports tournaments, cake and coffee mornings and individual sponsored events. An employee who took part in a marathon in memory of a member of staff who died raised the second largest amount ever collected by an individual for the charity WaterAid. Open-plan workspace makes everyone accessible and Peter Twelftree, the managing director, sits among staff rather than in an office. He has also been spotted at the free language lessons that the company provides. Staff say managers talk openly and honestly with employees (81%) and they trust the judgment of staff (82%). Will Macnair, who has been with the firm for 18 months, says: "There is a lot of respect between everyone who works here. You don't have to work a strict 9 to 5 regime; you are just trusted to get the work done." Staff have confidence in the abilities of other team members, with an 84% positive score, and say that colleagues care for each other (83%). Kayser works from home two days a week — flexible working options and career breaks are enjoyed by many members of staff. Employees do not have to work for the company for a certain number of years to earn these privileges, and several people work around school times.
