Workplace Culture & Engagement Build the right team that reflects your culture and you are ready for the next step. Andrew Gibbs talked to Bryan and Amanda Wright, the brand transformation specialists behind Yellowyoyo.
Values represent the essence of a business D eveloping and maintaining in a business a culture that aligns with its values will generate loyalty and positivity from both customers and staff. “A business needs to be representative of its leaders and that needs to filter down through the entire organisation,” said business transformation specialist Amanda Wright. “Values are so important to a business because the more you can align them to those of the customer the more likely they are to respond positively to you. But it works internally as well.” The couple set up Yellowyoyo in 1998 after careers in running businesses of all sizes. “Our decades of experience mean that we understand how to run businesses, deliver impact and enrich customer experiences across all channels,” said Mrs Wright. “In a world where interaction and communication are ever changing, the only constant is that as channels develop so must businesses and brands.” Yellowyoyo has evolved into a business transformation company, working with clients looking to enhance their brand and business ahead of a new chapter often an exit. “Quite often we find when we enter a. business that they are not ready for exit but they are ready to start the journey,” said Mr Wright. “The business platform is not strong enough to make the change in strategy and a big part of the platform is how
they deal with people, what their culture is like, how they hire people.” Inevitably, change brings stress. “Part of the way of dealing with that stress is to generate the right culture, the right team ethic towards change. It is very challenging. “A business has had to grow through change, with digital and hybrid working and that causes stress in any organisation. Any change causes stress. You have to lay the ground rules and understand how this change affects people - some will be able to cope, others will not.” Changing times have brought radical changes in working practices. Hybrid and remote working are now the norm and that creates trust issues. The key, said Mrs Wright, is to have the right team around you and to create an environment in which leaders can trust their staff to deliver. Yellowyoyo’s office sits in the beautiful Bedfordshire countryside just outside Cranfield. Its location creates an inspirational and calm backdrop to the business. Yellowyoyo staff also gather in a co-working space in Central Milton Keynes in order to talk with each other and to gather the thoughts of other workers based in the building. “You have to trust the people working for you but it is good to bring them together regularly, for meetings or social activities,” said Mr Wright. “We use a community hub in thecity centre so our people do not have to come all the way
out to our office but can still co-work and feed off other people. It is about building a community and it is important for us to be part of that community and have access to that wider community and everyone can use it.” Yellowyoyo continues to thrive thanks to its relationships with clients built up over many years. “Those who trust us to ensure their businesses and brands are irresistible and en route to their desired exit,” said said Mrs Wright. “That trust and those relationships are the catalysts to our success stories. They are the proof that we continually strive for the best possible outcome and keep our clients’ - and team’s - best interests at heart. “Being authentic is very important to us. Any business represents its leaders and that needs to filter through. There is a genuine, authentic desire to help our people and our clients to be the best they can be. That is something that runs through what we are.” An organisation’s culture is constantly evolving with the wider business environment. Communication is key to keep pace and recruiting and retaining ambitious staff. “Creating the right team around you is crucial,” said Mr Wright. “We need to employ people who want to get on and we have to give them the leeway to fail and not worry about it. As soon as people are frightened of failure, it stifles them.” Added Mrs Wright: “Conversations when the
Stella in the Yellowyoyo office with owners Amanda and Bryan Wright
Stella is proving a star attraction
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eet Stella, onsite decompression specialist at business transformation company Yellowyoyo. All the staff and clients love her. “They take you out of yourself,” said director Amanda Wright. “Stella is lovely. She’s a quiet dog and is a pressure valve release in the best way. She brings that to the office every day.
“Stella loves a cuddle and even if it is only for a moment, it is so good for you to have that.” A canine companion in the office gives staff a reason to step out to clear their head. “She is a reason to go out for a good walk and it takes you away from your worries for a while, which is a good thing,” said Amanda.
Occasionally, clients are wary of dogs or, worse, are allergic. If that is the case, nine-year-old Stella stays at home. “We do not bring her in if we know a client is coming who either does not like dogs or is allergic and we always ask the question beforehand,” said Mrs Wright. “But there are clients who come to see her rather than us, I’m sure.”
time is right keep people aware and comfortable in their decision-making. Taking your people with you is really important - it sounds obvious but it is not always the case. Keep talking, keep it fresh.” As a business and brand
transformation company, it is essential for Yellowyoyo that it constantly pushes and develops new ideas. “Changes to the culture in a business is something that we have to work on every day to make sure it works to best
effect,” said Mr Wright. “You need to make sure that you are on top of it all the time. “Some people can have that control of their people and do not have to work at it but get it right and you can become a better you.”
It’s clear... IT firm is putting focus on social values
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thical business practice, positive social impact and enriching its local community has won the prestigious Social Value Quality Mark accreditation status for IT solutions provider Lucid Support Services. The Bronze accreditation endorses the company’s work to uphold social values across its operations, from environmental sustainability to community outreach and employee empowerment. Lucid Support Services, based at Wymbush in Milton Keynes, has committed to putting more resources into employees’ health
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and wellbeing and becoming more environmentally friendly, investing in tree planting schemes through its partnership with the National Environmental Wildlife and the Green Regeneration programmes. The company also offers IT and digital apprenticeships and has donated more than £1,000 to local and national charities including Willen Hospice, local food banks and youth sporting teams. “Our core legacy is to be locally focused, changing lives for the better through the work we provide and the support we offer,” said managing director
Business MK | December 2023
Alun Jones. “It motivates us to keep innovating new ways to drive positive local impact as we continue growing. Our goal is to lead by example in integrating social values into everything we do as a company.” Now silver and gold accreditation are in the company’s sights, he added. Lucid is also running a recruitment training programme aimed at young people wanting to gain an on-the-job qualification. Pictured are the company’s two social values champions, administration manager Chelsea Dickson and account delivery
lead Natalie Harwood. “It is very important to me to work for a company that puts social responsibility and community impact at the forefront of its values and operations,” said Ms Dickson. “I am proud to be part of
a business making a positive difference in the lives of our employees, our partners, and community,” added Ms Harwood. “The Social Value Mark recognises Lucid’s commitment to keep innovating new ways
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