BEST PLACES TO WORK

Summary:

Automotive PR agency PFPR Communications just had its Investors in People status renewed. Independent adjudicator John Baker said in his report: ‘The company demonstrates excellent practice in the way it supports and manages its people. There is a strong sense of belonging throughout the company. I found many examples of excellent learning and development opportunities being provided at all levels in the company.’ Staff members also sang the company’s praises, with one saying: ‘I am told when I do well, everything is very open and it’s a no-blame culture here.’

Benefits:

Flexible hours, working from home, childcare vouchers, private healthcare, bonuses, performance-related pay, secondments, rewards for delivering new business, fresh fruit for all staff, chairman’s pub lunch with one team member per month.

Training and development:

Staff are formally appraised once a year and have personal development plans which are put in place following this meeting. Training involves both internal and external courses and coaching. Staff are encouraged to develop existing skills and learn new ones, some of which are PR based but staff are also encouraged to learn other skills, such as languages. Staff are also given secondment opportunities including three and six month placements to offices of clients in the US. Staff also travel regularly with popular destinations including Europe, Japan, Korea and the US. Staff are also given informal team-building opportunities, such as days out quad biking and learning archery.

Work/life balance:

Staff have access to flexible working practices such as working from home and flexible hours. The company encourages a family spirit and invites partners to the annual Christmas party, which always takes place at the weekend with laid-on accommodation. Staff are given extra time off between Christmas and New Year. Throughout the year all employees are given one Friday in four off, which adds up to 13 extra days holiday per year. Older members of staff are also helped to plan for retirement, in some cases by reducing their working week to four days.

Graduate recruitment and new joiners:

PFPR Communication has contacts with universities and takes on graduates where possible, on an ad-hoc basis rather than formally. Senior staff members are encouraged to mentor more junior team members and the whole agency has an intelligence-sharing programme, where they make short presentations to the rest of the team on subjects relevant to the core business. ‘These sessions take place each week and ensure industry intelligence and best practices are shared across the whole team, rather than retained by individuals,’ says chairman Peter Frater.