As a people first employer, it’s really important to us that we share our vision& plans for the upcoming year with our team. This ensures that the team can support us in driving us towards the next milestone, whilst also offering the opportunity for feedback and ideas.
We brought together our Maintenance and Small Works, and our Facilities Management team on Tuesday 3 January to kick start 2023! These teams commonly work independently, out on the road getting the job done. It could be isolating if they didn’t have regular contact with the wider team, and the camaraderie and support that can come with that. We therefore aim to bring the team together so that they can get to know one another better and to establish a common language across the organisation where they can reach out for help.
At the meeting, we shared the company mission, vision, purpose, and values. We highlighted our commitment to be an ethical business with robust practices, to support our talent, to become net zero by 2035, and to give back to the communities we work in. We played games, including a juggling ball exercise where by the end there are balls flying in all directions! Whilst having lots of fun and plenty of laughs it also gave us the opportunity to discuss overwhelm and recognising when maybe you have too much on. We were able to have constructive conversations around ways that we as an organisation can handle that and support one another.
There were opportunities for our business learning too as the teams were able to discuss working practices and highlight efficiencies such as adding notes in a different place on the workflow management system makes it easier for all to see.
Here’s what some of the team had to say in response to the day:
“It was good to hear the mission and vision of the company directly from the senior management. It was more impactful as a result.”
“The games were fun, good ice breakers and a great way to remember the names of my colleagues. It also taught a valuable lesson about the importance of communicating any issues however big or small.”
“The demonstration of the Simpro Systems also helped me a new employee, to familiarise myself to both how it operated from the PC as well as the Tablets.”
“Getting together as a team to discuss anything and have the feeling you are valued is very rare and for me it is one of the biggest attributes and praise, I can giveCDE. The way all the staff are treated is a credit. New and up to date ideas but with old fashioned morals.”
“The opportunity to feel part of the business and feel that any opinions are listened to no matter your status in the company is refreshing.”
“The ability for everyone to be given an opportunity to hear firsthand what went well in 2022, what was learned and what the plan is moving forward for 2023”.
“When involved in a task for team building it gave me a chance as the new team member to get to know the other staff members on a different level.”
“The games were a good way of relaxing staff and making learning fun with people who I don’t speak to everyday and who I don’t know well.”
“The progression plans are exciting and to feel like you are part of the plan and appreciated for what you do is a breath of fresh air.”
We are currently working through the responses from our team, but we have received a significant number of suggestions and recommendations for how we can make a bigger impact in our local community. It is this employee-led engagement that drives our civic duty, but at our very core, we have pledged to be a business with purpose beyond profit, supporting our people and the planet too.