4 minute read
We stick together and enjoy our work
Behind the near-meteoric rise of ICE Industrial Services, you will not find managers who sleep a few hours a day, are at risk of burnout and don’t have time to relax. The founders of ICE Industrial Services, led by Tomáš Vránek, have maintained the enthusiasm with which they started the bold project 9 years ago. As a result, ICE Industrial Services is now one of the leaders in MTX Group in the field of corporate social responsibility.
The goal of ICE is not only to have happy employees but also to give positive energy to those who need it. The company, with more than 150 employees in 12 offices across the country, organizes an annual Family Day for engineers and other team members. Twice a year, there is an off-site meeting for the whole firm, but thanks to the friendly atmosphere, it is more like a get-together with friends. ICE prides itself on the fact that work is not just a place where you spend eight hours and go home. The motto of ICE is “We stick together and enjoy our work”. Three years ago, the firm started using agile management. Before that, everyone at ICE agreed on the company’s core values: team, honesty, flexibility, professionalism and fun. Today, these are not just empty words on the wall in the meeting room. ICE culture, agile management, personal responsibility and a high degree of freedom – that is what ICE wants to use to inspire and to create a modern establishment for future generations. Everyone addresses each other informally at work, and meetings are open to everyone. It may sound a bit utopian, but team-building activities such as skiing, biking or playing ice-hockey and football prove that ICE cares about its people. Another important value is helping those in need. Since the company values long-term partnerships, the help is usually permanent or at least provided over a long period of time. “We help in different ways. Sometimes, ICE donates money or sometimes our graphic designer helps someone with their website. Every year before Christmas, our employees collect funds and everyone plays their part and contributes,” says the CFO, Barbora Havířová. The company’s activities are aimed at helping children, young people, athletes, and supporting cultural events. A matter close to our heart is helping little Sofie Petrovická, who was born with a rare genetic disease. The support of her loved ones, anonymous donors and ICE team members help her and her family handle the difficult situation. You can read more on www.nadejeprosofinku.cz. ICE supports a charity project called “Cycling for children through Žďárské vrchy”. It is an annual event, and the proceeds go to children with oncological diseases. ICE has a close relationship with sport. Not just because many employees are former athletes, but also because fair play is an essential part of the company. That is why the firm was and is a partner of many sports teams – from gymnastics through handball to the hockey team in Žďár nad Sázavou. ICE also supports young people. It has been cooperating with the private Na Radosti elementary school for a long time, which adheres to the same principles as the ICE team – freedom in work and education, and respect for the unique qualities of each person. ICE has an annual tradition of displaying New Year cards from this school. In addition, the ICE team has shown the seventh graders the basics of agile project management, when they used LEGO to explore what it is like to lead projects, how to keep an eye on their finances or how to communicate with suppliers. Basically, the training that every newcomer to ICE undergoes. You can read or listen to how ICE does all this at many conferences, articles or podcasts.
