BEST PLACES TO WORK

Sum up your agency’s approach to staff welfare and wellbeing in less than 10 words.

"A Dog is for life, not just for PR."

Please describe your current office location and facilities.

Our head office is in Brighton and we also have a small office in Berkeley Square, London.

Gabrielle Stirling, operations manager, says: ‘When I joined Man Bites Dog just over two years ago my first task was to find a new home for the team. When I saw the list of requirements I soon realised I had my work cut out! Our MD was very specific about what she wanted, and ordinary or average were definitely not on the list. I soon had all the commercial estate agents in Brighton scouring the area for the perfect office space which had to include: good natural light, high ceilings, a large open-plan space to keep the team together, inspiring meeting space, well-fitted break out and kitchen area, top of the range specification and fittings, good safe area in a nice location, well served by public transport, access to the beach, no traffic noise, and the list continued! The MD wanted nothing but the best for ‘The Dogs’ as the team calls itself. I was beginning to think it was near on an impossible task when I came across The Old Market. Thankfully the MD loved it as soon as she saw it and it is now affectionately known amongst the team as ‘The Dog House’.

Please give details of your staff training programme.

All staff from day one have a personalised training and development programme. This will identify specific needs and training will then be arranged to suit. The development plan will be reviewed every quarter with HR and line manager. The average time to promotion for staff is 11 months.

Please give details of your staff appraisal programme.

Everyone has a full annual appraisal, even the MD. This consists of a full 360 ° appraisal by the whole team, in-depth core competency review, and our very own ‘traffic lights’ evaluation system. In addition the appraisee has the opportunity to complete a questionnaire, allowing them unfettered comment and assessment of their year. It is a vital time to highlight employee achievements and progress and the aim is to make these as positive as possible.

Performance reviews are held every six months, and during the first six months of employment all staff are assigned a mentor and regular monthly catch-ups with them are diarised. Following successful completion of their probationary period employees continue to have access to their mentor.

Please give details of your flexible working policy including maternity and paternity packages.

Our internal surveys on staff motivations have shown us that flexible and home working are two of the most important benefits to employees. It is important to us that everyone has the ability to work from home and to this end we supply all employees with a computer or laptop.

About two-thirds of the team work from home at least one day a week. The company will fully evaluate all requests and do everything possible to facilitate flexible working where it is in the interests of the business and the employee. Examples of this in action are: three members of the team working two or three days per week due to other commitments and work/life balance.

We offer a generous maternity and paternity policy.

Describe any industry or networking events held at your offices.

As 90 per cent of our clients are based in London we like to entertain and network in a place they can easily access, and which has a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Hence in partnership with Birddog Marketing and Great Guns Telemarketing we run quarterly events to debate the future of marketing in The Billiard Room, which makes a perfect venue for meeting clients in a non-pressurised environment, where no-one feels ‘sold to’.

At our offices by the sea, we often welcome clients for brainstorming sessions and thought leadership debates.

How do you reward staff at Christmas?

We provide a fully paid for Christmas do – each year the staff decide what they would like to do, from a slap up meal at a fancy restaurant to a pantomime and dancing the night away to Elvis. In addition, all staff receive a special Christmas hamper and champagne. On the last day before Christmas we hold a seasonal company meeting, where awards for the year’s achievements are given out, together with champagne and presents.

What staff say.

‘Man Bites Dog is a great place to work for many reasons, the people, the flexibility, the training etc. However the best aspect for me by far is the infectious achievement culture. Even in its infancy the agency has always had a culture that enables challenging tasks to be enjoyed rather than feared. Instead of feeling daunted by taking on complex projects, I now approach them with gusto and I know this is because I always have the support of a team with a ‘can do’ attitude.’

Vic Crook, Account Director