JUST GROUP PLC Annual Report and Accounts 2021
COLLEAGUES AND CULTURE CONTINUED
730 The average attendance at the town halls was approximately 730 (2020: 700) colleagues, with on average 521 (2020: 650) colleagues completing our pulse surveys which continued to share really positive feedback 92 % of colleagues who completed our internal feedback survey agreed that BestFest helped them to informally reconnect face to face with colleagues 82 % Throughout the year, at least 82% (2020: 91%) of colleagues who responded to our internal pulse surveys felt that the town halls were valuable and at least 89% (2020: 94%) felt informed about what was happening in our organisation at that time
Town halls We held four CEO town halls during 2021 which provided regular opportunities to give business updates and promote two-way communication. After initially having to hold them fully remotely, in October we were able to deliver them in a hybrid manner, with some colleagues joining in person and other colleagues remotely, adding to the interactivity of the sessions. To align with these town halls we held three internal pulse surveys, in addition to taking part in the annual Best Companies survey.
Supporting our communities and charities As part of our approach to sustainability (see page 18), we have continued to recognise our duty to the communities in which we operate, as outlined in our charity and community policy. We raised funds for our corporate charity partner Re-engage, in line with our purpose of helping people achieve a better later life. Activities included a virtual “Around the World in 80 days” sponsored challenge and gifting our apprenticeship levy to Re-engage to train a data analyst for their business. We recognised Dementia Action Week in May, providing training to colleagues to become dementia friends, ran regular charity bingo sessions and the Company supported employee fundraising (half matching their funds up to £500) for a number of charities close to colleagues’ hearts, including Cancer Research UK, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, The Lucy Rayner Foundation and Alzheimer’s Society. We also worked with a local domestic abuse charity to furnish their office, allowing them to focus their funds on the vital work they do. We were delighted to achieve five stars in the Pensions and Protection and Mortgages categories at the Financial Adviser Service Awards for 2021, as well as being awarded Company of the Year. We wanted to recognise this great success, and rather than giving our colleagues a gift as we have in previous years, we decided to purchase one tree for every colleague from EcoTree. As a gift for good, each tree will contribute to the fight against global warming by capturing carbon, and will support biodiversity over its lifetime.
It was interesting to hear the Board members’ personal experiences of culture but more than anything it was great to have access to the Board members like this. I’ve never worked in a company where employees can directly interact like this with Board members, normally they seem quite removed and distant Employee feedback from Conversation with the Board session
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