Giving Something Back - The extent to which employees feel their organisation has a positive impact on society
Giving Something Back focuses on the organisation’s social responsibilities. If key factors such as ‘Leadership’ and ‘My Manager’ are performing well, it can influence the improvement of all the other factors, boosting your overall engagement.
The founders and leadership team have been communicating the 'North Star Ambitions' focused on people, culture, growth, clients and impact, ensuring everyone knows how to contribute. Each ambition has an owner who supports goal-setting across the business. Employees get twice-yearly updates on progress.
Referrals are Daemon's most effective way of bringing in culture-fitting new talent, with one in five new hires via the scheme. An employee who successfully recommends a person for a permanent position gets £2,500 within 12 months. And there's even £200 for a team member who refers somebody on a contract basis.
Daemon's corporate charities are Breadline Africa, which provides educational infrastructure, and Staffordshire Women's Aid. Its staff raise money through activities like runs and step challenges. They also do free-of-charge technical work to help the charities increase web traffic and online donations. Contributions to Breadline Africa have helped build a school facility using a shipping container.
All staff are encouraged to be brand ambassadors using social media to show the company is a great place to work. Everyone gets a £2000 referral bonus for a successful candidate they've recommended, irrespective of the level of the role they're starting. More than one in 10 (13%) of new hires currently come from referrals.
Learning and development have increased by 450% over the past five years. Staff can get fully-funded courses for essential professional qualifications or certifications. There are internal development programmes, including leadership and specialist technical skills, and plentiful secondment opportunities. There's also an online learning platform with over 25,000 assets, from audiobooks to courses.
The company works with an IT recycling company to manage the disposal of equipment used across the business and by its customers. By ensuring more than 1000 devices are reused and the rest recycled, the company has reduced CO2 emissions by almost 10.5 tonnes. It supports local charities by gifting this equipment alongside financial donations.
The organisation runs a process: "SKIPs". The principle is that employees skip their line manager and provide feedback on the business to the next level up. This process was undertaken by the board of directors and every member of the organisation met with a director where they were asked for feedback related to its vision.
The organisation runs a Living Leader programme. It also provides bespoke training tailored to individuals, such as professional finance qualifications and technical training. One leader at Excalibur Communications is on an external leadership programme and the People Director is training in executive coaching.
Excalibur Communications has a charity committee called "Excalibears" who drive its charity fundraising, donations, and volunteering activity. The organisation recently participated in some grounds maintenance at a local hedgehog sanctuary. The organisation also matches any contributions made via the payroll on a monthly basis.
A dedicated health and wellbeing programme includes webinars, promotes awareness days, and shares healthy living tips on topics from finances to menopause and prostate cancer. Staff and their families also have private health care provision, including a 24/7 support line.
All employees can access a wide range of courses through the online learning management system, allowing them to learn at their own pace and at a time that suits them. There's a Future Leader Programme for managers, and each department has a training budget supporting staff to take courses aligned with their specific job roles.
All employees are given reusable coffee cups to help reduce the number of cups ending up in the ground. And the company has a dedicated 'ReUse shop' with items saved from landfill. It also uses the many donations of cutlery, cups and glasses in its own departments to keep them from buying new ones.
In April, it hosted its first Financial Wellbeing Week, highlighting the benefits it offers such as Westfield Health, Aviva Digicare, and its EAP. It has also hosted 'in-office' events such as Time to Talk Day and Brew & a Biscuit sessions to encourage people to come together to check in.
Peel provides a training library of events open to all employees to upskill within their role, from emotional intelligence to developing self-esteem and assertiveness skills. It also provides a Personal Development Plan (PDP) which are tailored to each individual, supporting their specific development needs. This reinforces its commitment to the growth of its people.
Employees took on the Great Manchester Run raising a total of £1,682 for Once Upon a Smile. Employees also took part in a special volunteering day to mark World Environment Day - encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. It also plans to raise money at Tough Mudder and MacMillan Coffee Mornings.
PICs' health and wellbeing forum supports staff with services such as clinical psychology. It's training more Mental Health First Aiders to help employees organisation-wide, and there are plans for an Employee Assistance Programme. Staff are encouraged to take advantage of health service discount schemes and boost their health through the Cycle to Work scheme.
New starters get a corporate induction on their first day supported by a comprehensive handbook with information on structure, training, IT systems and what to expect during their probationary period. The HR team checks in with recruits at two and six weeks to ensure they're settling in and to address any concerns early.
Small changes are helping reduce PICS' carbon footprint. Everything from writing to toilet paper is now recycled, plumbed-in water coolers have replaced bottle systems, a Net Zero lead has been appointed, and it's working with Sherwood Forest Trust to plant hundreds of trees – committing to doing it every year on the organisation's birthday.
The leadership team has developed a people charter. It holds an annual conference where all employees are invited to get together in person. It holds monthly team meetings which reinforce company values, mission, and objectives. These meetings have included the opportunity for employees to get involved in people and company strategies.
In terms of pay increases and rewards associated with performance, it offers a completely transparent promotion scheme to all employees. This enables consultants to fast-track their careers and reach Director-level at their own rate. The scheme is designed to be measurable and fair; employees also have promotion opportunities every six months.
Prime People continues to run its Salary Sacrifice scheme supporting a small orphanage in South Africa. One of its London team leaders has recently run a successful charity golf day to raise money for company charities. More employees have also run/walked 50 or 100k of the Thames Path to raise money.
Quanta’s leadership encourage employees to live by company values through its rewards and recognition scheme ‘Qudos’. This recognises employees who exemplify the organisation’s values and is celebrated throughout the business. The senior management team live and convey the values through internal communications and employee reviews of gathering feedback on themselves.
It has introduced LinkedIn learning for those employees who have requested training in specific areas. It has also recently launched a new mentor programme where employees are paired with senior members of the business to mentor and guide them with professional advice, development, and or within a specialist subject matter.
During the last year, it has run collections for the local children’s ward – including an Easter egg hunt. Employees held a number of bake-off events in the office as well as taking part in the dragon boat race for its local hospice.
Employees enjoy regular events, campaigns and activities thanks to the employee-led and award-winning health and wellbeing group 'Hapus.' It's organised 'Brunch & Babble' sessions, wellbeing walks, online bingo, men's mental health breakfasts and 'Walk in My Shoes' learning lunches to help people find out about experiences and backgrounds different to their own.
Staff now find it easier to identify and request training. They can highlight opportunities at any time rather than having to wait for specific points in the year. RHA supports technical and leadership development and encourages employees to attend networks and conferences. It's investing in training provision to increase the number of courses available.
Staff are involved in numerous projects and fund-raising initiatives. These include walking more than 20 miles to Cardiff to raise money for tenants' Christmas hampers, working with a local organisation to help young people learn construction skills and involving more than 400 people in health and wellbeing sessions, from community walks to chair yoga.
Robinwood Activity Centres develop children as individuals and as members of a team, with safety, enjoyment, and learning are priorities. It aims to respond to customer feedback to provide the best customer experience and to respond to staff feedback to create the best place to work.
Employees are selected based on their values and personal qualities. Having made this selection, it has extensive training opportunities to ensure they develop the necessary skills. All group leaders complete a 6-week induction training course before they take sole charge of any groups of children, during which they are supported by a buddy.
The centre runs a travel to work scheme which incentivises either walking or cycling to work. Staff can raise money for charity by either walking or cycling to work and entering details of this on the staff website. Robinwood make donations which amount to several thousand pounds each year.
