What are companies doing with regards to 'My Team'

ActiveQuote’s Wellbeing Champions team consists of mental health first-aid trained staff members who are available to chat and support staff at any time. The organisation also has a comprehensive PMI policy which is medical history disregarded and includes mental health cover, and a digital health service provider where people can talk to doctors online.

The organisation uses its entry-level role as a type of ‘academy’ where it trains, mentors, and develops its ‘early careers’ talent into future leaders and internally recruit them into other roles. ActiveQuote invest in qualifications for employees too such as Cert CII, CIPD, and DevOps qualifications.

For Wellbeing Week in 2023 and this year, Scottish Friendly had a comprehensive diary of fun and practical activities including board and console games during lunch as well as more focused health sessions including massages, flu vaccinations and workshops on managing stress.

The organisation seeks to reward colleagues through peer recognition, offering £50 per month to the winner. It is currently implementing a new recognition scheme whereby three winners will each get one days additional annual leave, plus £100 credit into their recognition pot which they can spend on vouchers, experiences, gifts or charity donations.

Express Solicitors offers an Employee Assistance Programme. Furthermore, access to the Wisdom wellbeing app offers employees a wealth of resources on sleep, meditation, fitness and recipes. Due to the nature of Personal Injury claims, the organisation provides guidance and training on challenging matters like dealing with clients with suicidal thoughts or suffering from trauma.

Express Solicitors is committed to being an engaged and positive force both locally and nationally. We have ongoing partnerships with charities such as The Maggie Oliver Foundation, Burning Nights and Headway. In total, in 2023, Express donated approximately £200,000 to charities and good causes.

ITG offers a comprehensive framework for development, including structured training programmes, regular appraisals, and financial support. The clarity provided by the Appraisal Guide and Commission Structure empowers employees to take charge of their career growth.

ITG’s Senior Management sets the benchmark for excellence, leading by example and embodying the company's values. Their commitment to fostering a sense of unity and purpose inspires employees to uphold the company's values and contribute to its success.

Brighter Places supports personal growth through initiatives like the Brighter Places University programme and traineeships. These efforts have led to one in four promotional opportunities and 50% of management opportunities being filled by internal colleagues.

Brighter Places offers a Flexi Benefit scheme of up to £700 for wellbeing, a 6.16% pension contribution, and 30 days of annual leave. The organisation also provides an interest-free loan of up to £1000 and up to 14 weeks of company sick pay, ensuring a fair deal for their employees.

Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists offers several development courses throughout the year, open to all employees. Its internal programme is aimed at creating world-class practice managers signifying the organisation’s commitment to fostering a culture of growth and development.

At Bayfields Opticians and Audiologists, managers are equipped with the tools they need to support their teams effectively. The internal programme 'Greatness Starts with You' underscores the importance of supportive, trusting, and caring management in creating a world-class practice.

Every year, Aquavista chooses a charity to support. This year is Young Lives for Cancer. The organisation hosts numerous events throughout the year to raise funds, including a walking challenge and its summer market.

Aquavista provides managers with a combination of face-to-face and online learning covering both practical skills around the employee lifecycle as well as understanding behaviours and the links between behaviour and performance. The focus is on getting the best from your team as a Manager.

Age UK has worked to embed a culture which values mental and physical wellbeing throughout the organisation. This includes a sign-posted Wellness Action Plan, training for managers from the mental health charity, Mind, on how to recognise and support people’s mental wellbeing, and 50 Mental Health First Aiders.

Age UK has a two-level management and leadership-development programme. Its Empowering Managers Programme focuses on empowering its managers with the right tools and knowledge to thrive in their roles, as well as ensuring its people managers understand, and are aligned with, its culture.

Orega has a 'Wellbeing Board' located in the staff office. This board serves as a central hub for sharing information about various charities, support services, local exercise classes, and mental wellbeing courses. Furthermore, everyone at the organisation receives a ‘Wellbeing Day’ each year.

Orega’s 'Acting Up' scheme allows the organisation to offer temporary promotions to team members, providing them with a taste of the responsibilities and challenges of a new role before making a permanent shift. This 'try before you buy' approach allows employees to determine if the new position aligns with their career aspirations.

Opus Technology does a family Christmas event each year where it purchases gifts for all the employees’ children, arranges a Santa and decorates the offices with Christmas decorations and games. Employees bring their families together for an afternoon of family fun with some added treats along the way, creating a sense of community amongst them.

Opus Technology continues to support Polar Bear International and the Kenya tree planting initiative. It has also recently donated £1700 to the Samson Centre, £2500 to Ukraine charities, £2000 to Turkey earthquake relief charities, and £2000 to Save the Children – raised through Christmas Jumper days.