About Block

A key part of Block's strategy this year is to ensure that Block is a 'Great Place to Work'. Each Senior Manager has been designated objectives agreed with the CEO with an aim to improve employee engagement and satisfaction at Block. The group meet weekly to review progress. Once a member of staff has been employed for over five years, Block will set up a video conference and provide lunch for everyone in both offices, award that specific employee with £1000 and a personalised plaque will be displayed at the entrance of both offices. There will also be a special announcement in the monthly newsletter. Each quarter, they ask managers to nominate an employee or employees that they feel have demonstrated one or more of the company values. The company owners will select eight employees out of the nominations that will then go onto to win a reward day. Staff are provided with four reward day options and will have to agree on an option together. Each month, four members of staff will be awarded with a £50 gift card voucher of their choice following nominations from other employees. Everyone who joins Block will meet with both company owners for around thirty minutes within their first couple of weeks of joining Block for an informal introduction. This is a great chance for new starters to get to know the company owners and understand their role and responsibilities and the history of the company. Every month the CEO and CTO take turns to distribute a company newsletter. Both have an 'open door' policy and continually walk around the office to have conversations with staff at their work stations. Both leaders also use Socialcast (Block’s internal social webpage) to post personal and business related updates.

All line managers are encouraged to conduct 1-2-1 monthly meetings with their team to help monitor progress against each objective and to be clear on areas for development for each employee. Approximately 24% of employees have been promoted since joining Block. They are currently implementing job role development plans so all staff have a clear direction of their future position at Block and what steps are required to get there. The Block Apprentice Scheme, partnered by QA, provides a unique opportunity to combine great training with real world experience. The Scheme allows the future generation to be part of an exciting Company with a great culture from day one, gaining invaluable exposure and opportunities throughout. They also run a Block Academy Apprentice Scheme where they take on 2-4 apprentices per year and task them with delivering customer support to business partners and end users, responding to people’s technical problems by email and telephone, as well as helping to set up new systems. They support and assist with training, development and projects when required. On most occasions these apprentices will be offered full time employment with the company. They have planned to attend a few University job fairs in October and November in the hope to recruit students that wish to undertake a placement year. They hope to recruit talented students and provide them with the opportunity to gain experience of full time employment for 9-12 months. They also have a Fast Track Management Scheme where Block identifies talented young individuals and they are fast tracked through the promotion process to enable that individual develop and grow within block on a quicker scale.

Each quarter, managers get the chance to nominate eight employees that they feel have exceeded expectations within a chosen value. The selected eight employees then get to decide between four reward day options ranging from a balloon ride and dinner in London to a golf lesson and spa afternoon. These employees will take the day out of the office to do this and will be paid as usual. All staff are set around six objectives that are reviewed throughout the year. Employees will be scored against their performance against these objectives. A bonus is provided to employees at the end of the financial year depending on their personal scores and company performance. Each month they welcome all employees to nominate a colleague that they feel has displayed one or more of their four values. Nominations are submitted via a Perspex post box (one located in each office). All nominations are collated and reviewed and four winners are chosen, each will receive a £50 voucher of their choosing and are congratulated in the monthly newsletter.