And we don’t just mean doughnuts in the office once a year…
We want to chat about a topic close to our hearts – the joy and value in having a great workplace culture. You know, when you actually look forward to Monday mornings (well, maybe not every week, but you get what we mean).
When a whopping 88% of job seekers consider a healthy work culture to be vital for a business’s success, if you want to snag the best recruits in the industry, workplace happiness should be top of your agenda – not just something on your ‘nice to have’ list.
Luckily for us, enjoying our jobs is an everyday reality and a huge part of why we are buzzing, after years of hard graft, to be named one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work!
But what exactly makes our workplace culture award-winning? Let’s break it down.
Happy employees = happy clients
It goes without saying – when the team is happy, it shows.
To create a positive environment full of staff who feel valued and empowered, we think it’s important to be open about issues that can affect workers and often go unspoken. This is why we address subjects such as the menopause, neurodiversity, and anxiety in the workplace.
We’ve rolled out informative training and interactive sessions to increase awareness around these topics and equip staff with new skills. For example, a recent desk Pilates session taught us breathing techniques to help with regulating stress and improving focus.
What’s more, our team of trained mental health and physical health first aiders provides a supportive environment where we’re all encouraged to seek help and guidance.
By promoting this culture of openness, we boost our team’s wellbeing – which in turn makes our clients happier too. When the team is content and motivated, the work that we deliver is more creative, production increases and we have more positive client interactions, leading to higher client satisfaction and loyalty.
Teamwork makes the dream work
Without sounding too cringe, you should never underestimate the business power that comes from a united team. Building a strong team takes dedication, time, and plenty of fun bonding activities.
It can be hard to get to know people outside your direct team if you work in a large office, especially with more people than ever working from home. We break down these social barriers by holding regular events such as Easter egg hunts, film nights, pub quizzes and trips to amusement parks.
By fostering a close-knit team, you create a more supportive and collaborative environment where people aren’t afraid to share their ideas in a creative session and can lean on their colleagues when they need support. It also helps keep everyone in the loop on client work, ensuring business as usual for our clients when someone is OOO.
Attracting and keeping the best talent
A great workplace culture doesn’t just attract top talent – it helps to retain it. We all know that recruiting is pricey, so not only does investing in this area make sense on a business level, it enhances the expertise of the people you already believe in (you obviously employed them for a reason).
As all marketers know, our industry is constantly changing. We work hard to stay ahead of the curve and make sure PMW is a company that everyone wants to work for, and a business that clients want to work with. Part of this includes giving every member of the team upskilling opportunities – regular training courses are essential and have multiple benefits for the business. New knowledge and advanced skills keep our team members confident in themselves and in their work, whilst ensuring everyone who works with or for us is surrounded by the best of the best.
Take it from us, working in a place where you feel invested in for who you are and for your potential is a pretty good feeling – one that a lot of employees would be hesitant to leave.
What’s our secret?
The key ingredient to keeping our team happy is their input. Yes, you read that right. We just ask them every year what they want and implement those changes – it’s that simple. Obviously, there are some limitations. As nice as it would be to install a hot tub on the decking, it’s not going to happen.
But if your staff want flexitime, work from home options, an early finish on a Friday, a recognition programme, a full social calendar, a jargon-free staff handbook, transparent career progression, and regular salary reviews – don’t just promise it, deliver it. We have.
The proof’s in the pudding
We truly believe we know how to nurture our team and we have the award to back it up – we’re one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2024. The survey conducted for this revealed the average happiness rating among staff members was 90% and 95% of team members were satisfied with their working hours. This score was deemed excellent by The Sunday Times, so we’re clearly getting it right.
We had an 88% confidence rating in our incredible management (excellent again), the majority of them have worked their way up to director from entry level roles. Plus, the results indicated a 0% flight risk, suggesting that it is highly unlikely a staff member will leave the company in the next 12 months.
So, if you’re looking for a marketing agency which prioritises employee wellbeing and always delivers top-quality work, or you’re simply looking for a new job – we could be a match made in heaven.
