About icelolly.com

Icelolly have an informal coaching culture which takes place across the business to support individuals new to their role and also generally to support everyone's ongoing development. They have a comprehensive training needs analysis for each team which identifies what is required to meet their business priorities for the year ahead and this is reviewed every six months to ensure the identified agreed needs are met. They have commenced management and leadership development with the focus around the skills, knowledge and behaviours that everyone in the business believed were needed from managers to retain their motivation and engagement. Icelolly try to identify strengths and development areas and recognise the strengths to ensure that they continue to demonstrate these to aid overall engagement, and agree how to address the development areas going forward. The performance management scheme is designed to support people in their day to day work by providing a framework so there is regular two-way communication, relationships are built and maintained on trust, there is opportunity to regularly discuss work related activities, progress and issues. Also, issues which arise can be dealt with immediately and informally, support requirements can be identified and provided, people are fully aware of what is expected of them and people’s contribution to the business is recognised, together with their strengths and any development actions required. To achieve this, everyone has a performance review with their line manager every month. The review focuses on five areas, what has gone well, what has not gone so well, demonstrating The Commitments, agreeing and updating objectives and targets, development discussions.

As part of Icelolly’s private medical insurance, they have partnered with Vitality Health. Vitality rewards individuals for being healthy and provides incentives to help improve their overall health and fitness. This includes weekly rewards such as cinema vouchers and Starbucks if they achieve a certain level of physical activity in a given week such as walking, running, cycling, swimming or attending the gym. In addition, individuals receive points for undertaking a health check including weight, blood pressure and cholesterol, nicotine with additional points where the results are in the 'healthy zone'. Cash back is given quarterly to non-smokers. Since its introduction, there has been a definite change in peoples' behaviour and approach to a healthy lifestyle. Icelolly actively promote activities to support a healthy lifestyle and also believe that physical health and affect mental health. They have partnered with their local gym to offer reduced membership fees for all employees. As part of Icelolly’s stand ups, they regularly have 'team energisers' which are usually short, fun activities which are not work related but they do get people interacting with others and help with alleviating any stress. They have an employee assistance programme which as well as offering a multitude of advice and fact sheets via their website, also provides counselling both over the telephone and face to face. The counselling includes CBT and is available for all employees and their immediate family. Flexi rewards encourages employees to treat themselves and suggested activities include spa days, massages and short hotel breaks. Icelolly are very supportive of employees who may be experiencing personal challenges outside of work and have offered adjustments to working hours to help individuals in their times of need.

Some teams have team circles where they update every one of their priorities for the day and any support they require from colleagues. Twice weekly Icelolly have 'stand-ups', their purpose being to keep people up to date with business performance, and ensure people are familiar with what's happening in all parts of the business. Every Monday the stand-up covers the previous week's business performance and highlights of what has gone well. They then cover the targets and challenges for the week ahead and specific activities of note that are taking place during the week. Every Thursday, a team gives an overview of the work which has taken place over the previous month, specific achievements and activities planned for the month ahead so that everyone, regardless of team, knows the focus of each part of the business. Icelolly have team days where everyone in the business participates. The aim of the team days is to develop relationships between colleagues and teams and for people to work alongside others that they wouldn't normally work with on a day-to-day basis, have fun, celebrate success and recognise the progress of the business and how the team have helped us gain these results. They also aim to raise money for a nominated charity. Activities they have successfully run to date include Cocktails and Cakes, Photo Rally, Ice cream Making, Geography Challenge and Treasure Hunt, Office Olympics and a Day Trip to Blackpool.