COMPANY CULTURE
It’s all about going the extra mile and a lot of companies are starting to get that. Company culture is the foundation of every business – get that right, feed it into everything you do and that will support your growth. “The combination of our core vales and company culture was very strong and it was an amazing team of really lovely people, a mixture of skilled staff, apprentices and graduates. “We didn’t just pin a company mission statement to the wall and I didn’t do it on my own – we all worked as a team to create and develop those core values. At SVM I learned that teamwork is very, very powerful and it still is. “Financial thank yous were personalised. For example if the employee was into DIY then a B&Q gift card, or a book token for readers. We thought about their individual interests and tastes. “When you work eight hours a day you rely on your family to support you, so we would also recognise relatives with social get-togethers and days out for employees and their partners and children.” In between donning various other voluntary hats (including committee member for Business Growth Board on the Employment and Skills Sub-Group, a judge for Rotherham Apprentice of the Year, and a member of the Rotherham Pioneers group) Katrina’s most recent move was
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joining Sereniti earlier this year, working alongside MD and clinical psychotherapist Anne Lockwood and her team. MD Anne explained: “I set up the business in 2010 in response to comments from several business owners I had coached. There seemed to be a theme of SMEs wanting fast, flexible and professional HR resources which could in essence be switched ‘on and off’ as needed, rather than signing up for a two or even five-year contract without knowing future needs. “Our ‘Pay As You Go’ offer gives peace of mind support without fixed overheads – a bit like an invisible HR department – because each business might not need the same specialist each time. One project could be a restructure, or leadership training, the next a large recruitment campaign. “We’ve also been super careful in building our team, and they are why we are successful. We only have the best employees and associates.” Said Katrina: “After SVM I was approached by a number of companies but for me it’s important that the company is a reflection of my values. I met Anne and Vicki (Newman, Sereniti’s director
Sereniti says: Top tips on improving company culture: 1. Listen to your team – always! 2. Recognise and reward effort, regardless of the outcome 3. Communicate in the way your team appreciate not necessarily in your preferred style. 4. Build trust by being honest 5. Embrace failure as a healthy part of a continuous learning curve 6. Be proud of your team – they do a million little things every day which help your customers you’ll never know about!
of HR and Operations) at a Springboard event and found them extremely professional and liked their approach to business. It’s all about working in partnership with the clients to solve their people challenges but doing it in a way that’s open and up-front, adding extra value as an extension of the team. “I was also impressed with the range of consultants from emotional intelligence trainers and psychologists to highly experienced HR specialists. “Things are changing. People go into employment now and might switch job roles several times throughout their career. Today’s employers have to learn to be less ‘tunnel vision’ and instead look at pools of different talent. “It’s all about going the extra mile and a lot of companies are starting to get that. Company culture is the foundation of every business – get that right, feed it into everything you do and that will support your growth. “Your company might produce a product but without employees’ heart and minds that’s all you’ve got – a product and nothing else. You’re just ticking boxes and paying lip service.”
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