Openwork has kept its 2 star accreditation from Best Companies, achieving its highest ever score.
The accreditation recognises how Openwork has prioritised the physical and emotional wellbeing of its employees throughout the pandemic, making a number of initiatives available including Yoga and Pilates classes as well as ‘Lunch and Learn’ sessions focusing not only on business and professional development, but also wellbeing with topics such as mindfulness, breathing techniques to manage stress, mental health understanding and how to optimize immune systems.
A key initiative is the charity work undertaken by staff and advisers – and even clients too – through The Openwork Foundation. Since the Foundation’s launch, it has raised over £18 million for disadvantaged children and young adults both in the UK and abroad. The funds raised are distributed in the form of charitable grants to national, local and overseas projects nominated by their advisers and staff.
Openwork’s Foundation team adjusted the grant programme in March in recognition of the effects Covid-19 was having on charities. Nominated charities ordinarily apply for a restricted grant to support core costs or a specific project. This was changed to also support applications for unrestricted funding up to £5,000, to help address the impact of the pandemic.
Philip Howell, chief executive of Openwork, said: “I am delighted that we have once again retained our 2 star Outstanding accreditation from Best Companies with our highest ever score.
“This recognises the tremendous energy and passion our colleagues have put into making Openwork a great place to work. In these challenging times, we are working incredibly hard to ensure our colleagues feel supported and to create an environment where our wellbeing is just as important as keeping our business open not only for our colleagues but also for our clients.
“We’re really proud of our achievements so far and we will continue to listen and act on feedback from our colleagues.”
Best Companies has over 20 years’ experience in helping organisations measure and improve employee engagement using a robust methodology, with their accreditation standard certifying excellence in the workplace since 2006.
Jonathan Austin, founder and CEO of Best Companies, added: “Being a well led and well managed organisation with outstanding levels of employee engagement during these unprecedented times is an exceptional achievement. It demonstrates Openwork’s commitment to their people at a time when it means more than ever before – congratulations.”