About Eden Project

The Eden Project is a symbol of hope. They demonstrate that by working together and with nature they can leave the world better than they found it. The visitor destination in Cornwall, is nestled in a huge crater, where massive biomes house the largest rainforest in captivity. Stunning plants, exhibitions and stories serve as a backdrop to their striking contemporary gardens, summer concerts and exciting year-round family events.

Construction of the site began in 1998, with 230 miles of scaffolding used to build the Biomes earning Eden its very first entry into the Guinness Book of Records. They opened the doors to the public in March 2001 and have since welcomed over 20 million visitors, contributing over £2 billion to the Cornish economy. Eden is a spectacular destination, with world class horticulture and awe-inspiring architecture but what really makes them unique, is the people that bring it to life.

Eden Project firmly believe in rewarding employees for their continued efforts throughout the year. Each quarter they invite employees to nominate colleagues for an 'act of kindness' during the quarter. The prize for each kindness nomination is a Love to Shop high street voucher. This is a small, but lovely way of recognising some of the small acts that would otherwise go unnoticed and conveying their values of connection and commonality.

Beyond this they hold an annual awards ceremony at their all-staff Eden Gathering, where they announce an Employee of the Year, Manager of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and a host of Unsung Hero awards.

What is it like to work for Eden Project

Wellbeing

64% of staff disagreed:

My health is suffering because of my work

Mental health and wellbeing is high on their agenda. They have partnered with MIND to deliver a variety of mental health training and support sessions, such as awareness workshops, manager skills sessions and mental health first aid at work training. They regularly engage with local NHS partnerships to support a variety of health related matters such as smoking cessation and weight management. Through learning and development programmes they promote their relationship with nature and encourage team members to spend more time in nature, which is proven to have a positive impact on wellbeing. They run sporting events on their site, such as the Eden Marathon and Sportive and actively encourage their staff to participate in these events. Many of their staff take advantage of the cycle to work scheme and cycle to work to improve their health and fitness.

64% of staff disagreed:

My health is suffering because of my work

My Team

91% of staff agreed:

My team is fun to work with

Each January they close the site for two days, to bring all of their staff together for an organisation-wide event called the 'Eden Gathering'. During this event the Executive Directors give updates on various aspects of the business, business performance and plans for the future. Participants are encouraged to take part in experiential activities that help them understand Eden's purpose and encourage them to get to know people in other teams. Sometimes these activities may be solely focused on cultivating the 'Eden spirit' (motivation and engagement) e.g. exploring the Rainforest Biome or drumming in the Mediterranean Biome; or at other times for knowledge transfer, or getting employee input on projects through facilitated discussions.

91% of staff agreed:

My team is fun to work with

Giving Something Back

83% of staff agreed:

My organisation encourages charitable activities

They have a dedicated Communities team, who focus on running community projects, both large and small. Their aim is to improve the happiness and wellbeing of people across the UK by helping to build more resilient and better connected communities. Their flagship project is the Big Lunch, through which, they encourage people to have lunch with their neighbours on the first Sunday in June. Through holding a Big Lunch people in communities often report feeling happier about where they live, safer and are less lonely. Each year, around 9 million people take part.

83% of staff agreed:

My organisation encourages charitable activities

Learn more about the 8 factors of workplace engagement here

Benefits:

Holidays

Companies offering a minimum of 28 days annual leave to all employees after one year
Gym

Companies offering either free gym/ sports facilities or subsidised gym membership for all employees