About Homebase

Managers are given simple to use performance setting template and guidelines to take their teams through. Each of the leadership team go through the business objectives at the start of the year to enable them to intergrate them into their planning for the year. Managers attend regular leadership away days to understand where the business is going and what is needed to get there. Each business area and region have their own deciaded HR teams that work with them through out the year to plan. Some departments have quartlerly people surveys to sense check where they are in terms of plans. With the help of the HR team managers are given guidelines and help to conduct team plans, including succession planning. The exec have set out their stall in terms of what they expect from their management team and have worked together to bring it to life.

Wellbeing in Homebase is part of their core beliefs system, they place high value on the work the wellbeing team do to ensure the golden thread of wellbeing continues through the business. Their dedicated wellbeing and support leadership group, focus on developing new and existing programmes to engage their colleagues, including free flu injections in the contact centre this winter. They also have working parties for charitable giving, volunteering and talent and skills in the community, as Homebase have recognised that involvement in activities across these three other areas has a significant impact on the wider wellbeing of colleagues, in addition to the practical financial and physical package of benefits they provide. Their approach therefore is to promote and communicate opportunities for colleagues to get involved in one or more of these areas. This kind of involvement helps colleagues develop personally, gives them a feeling of pride about working for Homebase. It also improves team morale and generally helps to create a better sense of wellbeing in the workplace and in their personal lives. The biggest goal is to recruit 30,000 Dementia Friends from across the business who will benefit from an awareness raising session to develop a better understanding of people with dementia, as part of their partnership with the Alzheimer's Society. Homebase know many of their colleagues have family members with Dementia and want as many of their colleagues to be able to support each other, but it will also be a valuable and transferable skill for their families futures.

Their Peak Awards night is always a highlight in the stores calendar and is held in October and brings together a wide range of store colleagues who are recognised for their hard work and commitment during the Homebase peak period. The awards cover team and individual achievements, the event is an informal occasion and there is always a real atmosphere of celebration. Recognition is also given to colleagues for their fundraising and charity work. This is an annual event and is the culmination of all the focus on great customer service through the peak season, it includes a day at Alton Towers to really celebrate together and recognised those colleagues who helped deliver a great peak performance. The Homebase HR team is spread all over the UK and Ireland, so their team days are often the only time you will see them all together. With their Core Purpose still new, the HR Director saw a perfect opportunity to take her full team on a journey to understand it. The aim of the day was really simple, bring to life their Core Purpose, and inspire the HR business areas. The day included bringing a cushion from home to help you feel at home, and something special from your home. These items were used to talk openingly about what their homes mean to us, at this point many light bulbs went off around the room on how powerful the Core Purpose can be. With this freshly in their minds the new product and season ranges were showcased so the team could touch and feel what our Core Purpose will look like for the customers. That morning was a turning point for much of the HR team, and really captured the hearts and minds of the team. This in turn helped them to think through how their role supports the core purpose: from the people they hire to the training they deliver. The afternoon session included the mentoring and coaching sessions that had been started a few months earlier and gave collegues the opportunity to work with their mentors, and share progress. Many members had taken huge steps since the first sessions and as a team are showcasing what a difference they can make if they have the right support from colleagues.