TRIBE Magazine - Issue 1, May 2022

1 E U S IS

TRIBE

MAY 2022 ISSUE 1

e n i z a g a M

The Hare - TO Vitality A TRIBUTE SUPPORTING OUR NIKKI

UKRAINE

Welcome to Tribe

FOOTBALL FEVER THROWBACK

Welcome to our belonging updates in their latest form - TRIBE Like its predecessor, Community Magazine, TRIBE brings you the latest news from our worldwide totemic family & friends. So here you will find information about Engagement Initiatives, Benefits, Clubs & Society News, Births and Weddings, Charitable endeavours, Competitions and much more.

With so much going on in our world, it is important to take 5 minutes to breathe, stretch, get some fresh air – and, have a read!

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine tops daily news bulletins and doing something meaningful for the Ukranians is also top of our agenda. We are looking to see if we can deliver diabetic medication to those who urgently need it - and we want to give our heartfelt thanks to all of you who kindly donated gifts to support the Walton School lorry deliveries.

COVID-19 still looms large in our world, although now it seems enough of us are vaccinated and the strains are considered weak enough for us to treat it like a flu! It would be fair to say, writing this whilst off with the blessed virus doesn’t fill me with joy! I have been vaccinated 3 times and although closely exposed to it on many occasions, this is my first symptomatic episode. Should you find you have it and are well enough to soldier on, we would encourage you to do so at home.

Obviously if you are poorly, we expect you to curl up with your bedsocks on, a good dose of hot toddy and sleep to get better before you try and do anything!

We are also going to bring you e-business updates, so you can find monthly reports and keep up to date with our wider business successes and goals, through BEACON. The first edition will be reflecting on Good News Business items and what’s coming in 2022 across our Company. Each month will also spotlight on a different section of the Company and its leaders and key people.

Since our World was put on hold in anticipation of a change of ownership (and C-19), we have had, without question, the most productive and cooperative joint effort to turn on our business and recharge our identity & culture, in the history of our business.

What a fantastic effort you have given us and what a difference you have made.

Thank you.

We welcome our new starters and hope you all can immerse and involve yourselves in our work and play culture.

Where, across the business, we aim to financially assist every client and get them out of debt as quickly as possible, it is also our desire to have the best paid workforce in the industry, which sits very neatly with our SUCCESS value, represented by our Eagle: We Win, You Win. If things have gone to plan, you will be reading this after our 1st VITALITY week. I hope you have enjoyed and benefitted from the sessions on offer. March, focused on our Vitality value, symbolised by the Hare and it is all about being Fit for Purpose. Vitality Week is heavily focused on our people – your personal health and wellbeing – Mental, Emotional, Social, Financial, & Physical. However, our value also includes Training & Personal Development – fitness to do the work required; and Compliance – keeping our Company fit to trade within the regulations set by our governing bodies.

More on these areas in our next Vitality month, August.

April brought our 1st employee forum for many months in the form of a PACK as our Dog symbolises our 3rd value, BELONGING – which is all about Communications, Team building and development, Inclusivity, Diversity and Clubs & Societies. We celebrate this with the launch of our Intranet TOTEM. It is also many months since we had an Intranet to help reduce endless internal email management...

...and filter out the important from the informative.

We will also gather together our business leaders for collective strategic management and leadership development POW-WOWs, to ignite our creative sparks and create more business physical and emotional wealth for all.

Through May our engagement focus will move to FOR GOOD, symbolised by our Frog and capturing the sentiment We Care-We Share. This value encapsulates People (you, HR, clients) Places (our offices, our community, our environment, our world) and Philanthropy (charitable giving, community support and sponsorship) and our engagement totem finishes with our 5th value ACTIVE, depicted by our Monkey and symbolising the fun, developmental and organisational aspects which make us totemic. We work hard – We play hard. We have mutterings of a Christmas celebration this year – but more to follow on these in good time!

I look forward to seeing you all as we go about our business – thank you.

Lianne Firth - Director

Outstanding efforts from Lisbon and UK offices on collecting donations and raising money in support of Ukraine - thank you to everyone involved.

Our Values The Eagle - Success We Win - You Win

Group Strategy Understanding Value Reward & Recognition Performance Management

February & July

The Hare - Vitality We Are Fit For Purpose Health & Wellness Personal Development Inclusivity & Diversity Protecting our Interests

March & August

The Dog - Belonging We Are Better Together Communication Tribe Meetings Team Building Clubs & Societies

April & September

The Frog - For Good We Care - We Share

Our People Our Environment & The Environment Having a Conscience Giving Something Back

May & October

The Monkey - Active We Are Active

Engagement Strategy Visibility Physical Activity Company Events

June & November

A Tribute to Nikki 3rd August 1954 - 21st February 2022 Nikki first came into our lives as a housekeeper whilst working for an external cleaning contractor in 1999, by 2003 the company decided to bring housekeeping in house, employing Nikki as a full-time caretaker looking after the housekeeping needs at Kempton House.

I would like to share with you some of our treasured memories.

Nikki went through fads, our most memorable was when she was trying to do 10,000 steps a day. This fad ended, when Nikki ran up the stairs a number of times to get her steps in with a cuppa in her hand. Nikki tripped, the tea went everywhere, and Nikki joined by Kelly were found in fits of giggles covered in tea.

Nikki had a very sweet tooth and we often found her eating an egg custard tart from Watkins or Morrisons.

But our favourite, we teased Nikki all the time about was her ability to blag a department cake, she would quite literally would go into a dept that had a cake and ask "Which one's mine love", she never left without a slice. Nikki loved a car boot, we often received a car boot gift on a Monday, toys for our children, treats for our pets, a nice vase, our estate gifts were endless.

In 2012, estates were asked if the girls would volunteer for a Calendar, in the style of the WI Calendar Girls.

Nik was the first to volunteer and chivvy the others on.

On the 24th Oct 2012, our volunteers were in the Ash Room, wearing nothing but a pair of Knickers and a dressing gown, nervous feeling sick and trying to back out of the photoshoot, the moment had arrived to drop the dressing gown. Gasps went up, not because of fear, but the shock of Nikki's perfectly formed bits and pieces, she was voted the best body in estates by the volunteer calendar girls and went on to have a private portrait session. What a legend.

Lastly, Nikki's fruit trolley - Nobody was allowed to touch the trolley, or deliver the fruit, we would get into so much bother if we touched the fruit trolley. Nik had her favourite people, who got their fruit delivered to their desks instead of the landings LOL. You know who you are. Nikki was our little pocket rocket, our feisty Mancunian, but most of all our much-loved friend. Her happy place was always putting the world to rights with her Bestie Jayne B.

Good night, Nik xxx

A Tour of our Lisbon Office...

At Lisbon office we have introduced three different approaches on how we can work: from home, at the office or a mix of both.

This new way of working led us to adapt to a new reality, and as a result we have ended the lease contract of Amoreiras Square Fraction 5A, which was 707 square meters (7160 square feet). We are now fully operational at Amoreiras Square Fraction 5B, which is 571 square meters (6146 square feet), with 81 desks, 2 meeting rooms, 1 training room, kitchen, lunch & lounge areas and toilets.

We have introduced a desk booking system to ensure everyone who wants to work from the office will have a computer waiting for them when they get there.

We would like to thank all the Lisbon Estates Team for having done such a great (and massive!) job, cleaning up Fraction A and making sure Fraction B looks and feels welcoming.

Out with the old and in with the new!

20 YEARS SERVICE ANDREA PIDD Andrea has worked in a number of roles and departments over the years, more recently our IVA support department as a case officer helping clients through their IVA journey to successfully complete their IVA. Andrea then joined the IVA QA team to help support others and provide developmental feedback, before being part of our MAPS initiatives over the last 18 months and providing QA feedback to our front end debt advisors and helping us ensure all our clients receive a fair outcome. Andrea is a diligent and hard working member of the team, thank you for all your hard work over the last 20 years!

EMMA SQUIRES Emma started her time with Totemic working in Payplan as a DMP Case Officer. She quickly progressed to a team leader role before moving over to work in Head Office as PA to Lianne, where she has been working for over 10 years. Emma is always positive, fun to be around and always willing to roll up her sleeves for whatever needs doing. She continues to be a valued and very loved member of the team.

Outside of the office Emma is known for her love of sports, participating in horse riding, walking, and skiing and watching rugby.

She is a very accomplished horse rider and completes competitively at a high level on her lovely horse Bea. Totemic has seen Emma through her 30th & 40th birthdays, her marriage to Neil, 2 hip replacements and the birth of her daughter Abigail Charlotte. Congratulations Em, here’s to our next chapter!

SUZANNE FLAXMAN Suzanne has worked in a number of roles in her time at Totemic, most notably being one of the founding members of the DMP Client Accounts department, and more recently as a Collections Agent for Premium Plan.

Suzanne is a bubbly character and never shy to share her honest opinions. She has a natural caring kindness towards everyone she has worked with. She has an admirable dedication towards her work and is always willing to help anyone. This combination of attributes has made Suzanne such a highly thought of, respected team member of Premium Plan. Suzanne loves a drink or two on team nights out and regularly supplies us with her home bakes.

Thank you, Suzanne, for your continuation of hard work and support!

ADELE CARDOSO Adele started her Totemic journey in DMP Services in 2001, swiftly moving to IVA Services in 2002 as a case officer where she excelled.

She then moved to IVA Self Employed as a team leader to a brilliant Mottley crue ! From there followed a stint in compliance which further brought her keen eye for detail. She was then lured back to Bespoke Services as a Manager and built up the department with Nick Payne.

Adele mentored all staff and everyone learnt something from her. Her knowledge base meant that she was the ideal candidate for Technical Manager of IVA. Adele is a hard worker and always makes time for everyone no matter how busy she is.

During her time at Totemic Adele has passed her motorbike test, visited the Lisbon office and came back with a husband. She has also found the time to renovate two houses and is now working on her third and with her skills she would be able to help out on DIY SOS if they needed her to. She has been able to do all of this along with her youngest daughter Jessica keeping her on her toes and keeping fit by taking long walks with Winston her dog.

10 Year Service Awards

Congratulations to everyone and thank you for your hard work and loyalty

Dave Hale

Tiff Blanchard

Rich Healey

Peter Munroe

Lewis Wallace

Simon Greiner

Michael Evans

Val McDonald

Rogério Leitão

Kirsty Leeson

Gisela Pinto

Laura Chambers

Gonçalo Ferreira

Julia Round

Lucia Sousa

Paul Crawford

Rute Simoes

Rachel Preston

António Sousa

Emma Gibbons

Katarina Sousa

Laura O’Reiley

Sarah Gillings

Thomas Sheridan

Rui Vicente

Nathan Gilfedder

Filomena Sá Rita Teixeira

Giggity

Tammy-Lee Downs Emma Louise Chappell

Getting to know each other - HR Special Mike Lynn-Jones How long have you been with Totemic?

Almost 12 months What’s your role and how would explain it to people?

I am Group People Director. Essentially my role is to ensure our people strategy supports and enables the delivery of the overall business strategy.

What previous experience have you had before this? Any interesting or funny jobs?

I have been in HR for 20+ years. My first job was selling Ice-cream at the Pleasureland Amusement Park in Southport, the hourly rate was in pence not pounds!

Tell us a few things people might not know about you.

I am a bit of a petrol head, classic cars and bikes.

I also love rugby and support Bath and Wales.

Do you have any hobbies or special interests?

My main hobby is listening to music, going to concerts - much better than a box set on the TV! Next stop Pearl Jam in Hyde Park.

What’s your favourite thing about Totemic?

Our people.

Mike Thackery How long have you been with Totemic?

5 months but I was here for 6 years previously and I’m now very happy to be back!

What’s your role and how would explain it to people?

I’m Head of HR for Payplan & Paylink. My job is to try and make sure that we hire the right people, and look after them whilst dealing with anyone who misbehaves.

What previous experience have you had before this? Any interesting or funny jobs?

After leaving school with no qualifications I worked various jobs from assembling furniture to selling mobile phones. My strangest job was selling timeshare, a lot of fun! I’ve been in HR for 15 years and absolutely love it!

Tell us a few things people might not know about you.

I was in the Territorial Army, my Uncle (Colin Thackery) is the oldest winner of Britain’s Got Talent, I have tattoos in a dead language (Ancient Anglo-Saxon). I love football, rugby, reading and movies.

What’s your favourite thing about Totemic?

The people and that the relaxed dress code means I can wear my Hawaiian shirts!

Sarah Ballaam How long have you been with Totemic?

13 years What’s your role and how would explain it to people?

Head of HR for Totemic Holdings. Businesses include; Reach, Clever, Credo, Premium Plan, Central services, The Hare and Hounds and Mill Farm.

What previous experience have you had before this? Any interesting or funny jobs?

LUOTC; 3 years of part-time Officer training at Leeds University, Waitressing and PADI diving in Koh Toa Thailand. I have achieved a Bachelors and Masters Degree, and Associate level with the CIPD. Tell us a few things people might not know about you.

I like a challenge; Three Peaks Challenge, Skied Le Vallee Blanche, Bungee Jumped in NZ, Skydive over Sydney, Heli-skiing in the Dolomites, Cycled London-Paris and Florence-Rome, PragueAmsterdam-Budapest-Oslo-Nottingham Half marathon, Hood-to-Coast relay race in Oregon.

What’s your favourite thing about Totemic?

The people, and of course, the caff.

Tânia Martins How long have been with Totemic?

16 years What’s your current role and how would explain it to people?

I’m responsible for the HR area in Lisbon. I work closely with Sandra Santos, our payroll coordinator. We complement each other when dealing with the major HR tasks. I am one of the people responsible for giving structure to the Office in Lisbon mainly through work relations.

What previous experience have you had before this? Any interesting or funny jobs?

I did a lot of babysitting for famous Portuguese actors, worked in some festivals and for the Ministry of Internal Administration during two electoral processes.

What makes Totemic different to anywhere else you have worked? I love the informal yet professional atmosphere Tell us a few things people might not know about you.

I’ve worked in a newspaper as a photojournalist around my 20's. I was a member of an alternative music band and participated in the recording of an album.

Alice Kinton How long have you been with Totemic?

3 years, 7 months What’s your role and how would explain it to people?

HR administrator for non-core business areas.

What previous experience have you had before this? Any interesting or funny jobs?

I’ve worked in a local florist, at Wickes and at Sainsburys, then after completing my uni degree I started at Totemic as a PA, had a brief stint in Reach FS, and then last year moved into HR. Tell us a few things people might not know about you.

I've a degree in American studies, specialising in race relations in the 20th century. I lived in North Carolina for a year whilst studying, visiting New York, Washington DC, Virginia and New Orleans.

Do you have any hobbies or special interests?

I enjoy history, so love a museum and a National Trust property! I’m interested in crystal healing and love learning about the powers of crystals and how they can be used to improve wellness.

What’s your favourite thing about Totemic?

The people, the caf and that each day is different!

Kirsty Winch How long have you been with Totemic?

4 years What’s your role and how would explain it to people?

I'm an HR Advisor for the PayPlan and Paylink businesses, which includes assisting in coordinating staffing, recruitment processes and providing advice for employees.

What previous experience have you had before this? Any interesting or funny jobs?

I completed my AAT qualification and previously worked for my previous employer within Finance/Accounts department.

Tell us a few things people might not know about you.

I’m secretive when others are involved but open when it’s about me. I have a great memory.

Do you have any hobbies or special interests?

I love spending time with my two sons.

I have a keen interest in home décor and I love problem-solving.

What’s your favourite thing about Totemic?

The business does some amazing things to help and support their staff.

Sandra Santos How long have you been with Totemic?

Almost 15 years.

What’s your role and how would explain it to people?

Not just, but my principal role is being responsible for collating information and processing wages.

What previous experience have you had before this? Any interesting or funny jobs?

I’ve done so many different things, from childcare in a private “home de enfants” in Switzerland (2 years), property broker (9 years), HR General Administration in a Korean company (6 years), private secretary (2 years, same Korean company) and a few other “in-between” jobs.

What makes Totemic different to anywhere else you have worked?

For me, it is the “extended family” feeling. Many of the staff in Lisbon have been with the company for 10+ years and have bonded to a brotherly tie.

Tell us a few things people might not know about you.

I was brought up in Canada and, as a child, I wanted to be a “Mountie” (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). The horses and the scarlet coats just fascinated me.

Ruth Vinter How long have you been with Totemic?

1 year and 8 months, I previously worked for the company to in the Long Bennington office.

What’s your role and how would explain it to people?

I’m a Senior HR Administrator and deal with all HR administrative practices. I work closely with the HR Advisor facilitating meetings and supporting the business with change.

What previous experience have you had before this? Any interesting or funny jobs?

I was a Case Officer in DMP Support, then a Team Leader before moving to HR. I then left to have my son in 2018. I have previously worked as an Account Manager for Benefit Cosmetics and for a wedding company selling online marketing.

What makes Totemic different to anywhere else you have worked? I feel completely at home here at Totemic. People here are friendly, supportive.

Tell us a few things people might not know about you.

My favourite place in world is Vegas! I visited the Giant Sequoia Trees in the Kings Canyon in California. I entered X-Factor in 2008, got an audition but then didn’t go because I had the chance to go shopping instead!

Sophie Eaves How long have you been with Totemic?

I have worked at Totemic for 4 years, during this time I have worked within IVA Assistance, Reach and HR. What’s your role and how would explain it to people?

I am a HR Co-Ordinator for PayPlan and Paylink, my role includes maintaining HR records, obtaining HR reports, responding to internal and external queries.

What previous experience have you had before this? Any interesting or funny jobs?

Before I joined Totemic, I worked as a waitress at a Victorian country mansion.

What makes Totemic different to anywhere else you have worked?

Every day is different, how charitable we are as a business and the culture.

Alix Moore HR coordinator

Alix is currently on maternity leave, but we're looking forward to welcoming her back into the department very soon!

Tell us a few things people might not know about you.

I am very competitive and have achieved national medals in rowing.

What’s your favourite thing about Totemic?

The community feel!

Who would you like to see featured next?

Let us know!

Over the summer, football fever swept the continent. The games were a welcomed celebration as temperatures rose and restrictions eased.

Here's a throwback to how Totemic got in the mood...