Sunday Times 100 Check List

Athene Communications Ltd25 Priestgate Peterborough PE1 1JLT: 01733 207340www.athene-communications.co.uk

The Sunday Times Top 100 support package

Athene Communications is a successful and fast growing full service communications agency operating across three main areas of activity:• PRandmarketing• internalcommunicationandchangemanagement

and• communityengagement

Inthefirsttwoareaswehaveastrongclientbaseinthehealth,financialservices,manufacturingandlocalgovernment sectors.

Our community engagement practice is developing a range of clients across the construction, housing and renewableenergyindustries.

Our client list includes; Serco, British Energy, Kier Group,LarkfleetHomes,RoyalHaskoning,BalfourBeatty, the Indesit Company, BGL Group Ltd, Unisys,PearlGroup,NHSTrusts,PeterboroughCityCouncil,Vivacity(arts,tourismandleisureTrustforPeterborough)andtheGreatEasternRun.

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Introduction

Kelly Field, Associate ConsultantAthene Communications Ltd25PriestgatePeterboroughCambridgeshirePE11JL

T: 01733207340 07771928369E: [email protected]

www.athene-communications.co.uk

Contact






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Introduction




Contact

Athene launched its Sunday Times Top 100 health check in 2012, to help companies looking to gain a place in the 2013 Top 100 Best Employers list. This product has a 100 per cent success rate with our highest achieving company in the top 25.

Led by internal communications specialist, Kelly Field, our approach helps organisations to assess their employee engagement practices against Best Companies’ criteria and then position themselves for success. The health check comes at a fixed price and can be tailored to suit the needs of any sized organisation working in the private and not-for-profit sectors.

The health check• A desktop review of any previous staff survey results

• A desktop review of current employee engagement and communication policies and channels i.e. reward and remuneration package, staff newsletters, intranet copy, briefings

• A half to full-day planning session with the senior team and key personnel, as deemed appropriate

• Focus groups with staff to test out key messages and responses using Best Companies’ eight engagement factors

• A written report on the findings of the desktop review and planning session together with recommendations for next steps including timescales for registration into the process

The health check is based on a fixed price of £4,875 for organisations with up to 3,000 employees. For organisations over this size the cost is dependent on an organisation’s geography in terms of the number of sites and structure. We will always work to tailor the health check activities to best suit each business’ needs and budget.

Athene’s optional support package post the health check includes:• Development of an action plan and timeline

• Staff and board member briefing sessions to explain the process and benefits

• Tailoring of internal communications and key messages to ensure ‘buy-in’

• Internal communications support, pre and post the staff survey

• Completion of the Best Companies’ organisation questionnaire (split into four parts the majority of which is an evidence and PR gathering exercise)

• Internal and external publicity of your success and results to staff, stakeholders and the media

Costs for the above would be based on a retainer day rate tailored to your needs and budget.

Our approach


The Best Companies Accreditation follows the elite ‘Michelin style’ star rating system for organisations that demonstrate high levels of employee engagement. Based on staff feedback, organisations receive a Best Companies’ index score which will determine their star rating compared to a fixed standard.

One star is first class, two stars are outstanding and three stars are extraordinary.

Best Companies uses the same process for both the Best Companies Accreditation and The Sunday Times 100 Best projects.

The process consists of two elements:• An employee survey• Organisation questionnaire (this consists of four parts)

Your organisation’s score comes from the employee survey and is dependent upon how highly your people score the organisation according to the eight factors the survey measures.

The required percentage of completed surveys is as follows:• Small companies (50-249) - 40% or 30 whichever is the greater • Mid-sized companies (250-4,999) - 40%• Big-sized companies (5,000 plus) - 30%

The Sunday Times Top 100 and Best Companies Accreditation – how it works

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Company registration

Surveying of employees

Completion of Company Questionnaire

Evaluations and site visits

Notification of star status

Awards presentation

The timeline

The costs

Best Companies provide an online calculator to assist organisations with planning and budgeting for the process. To find out more visit:

http://www.bestcompanies.co.uk/listmechanics.aspx?SurveyType=Accreditation

Best Companies’ costs includes a top line summary to reveal how an organisation has scored in each of the eight workplace factors that Best Companies measure: Leadership, My Manager, Personal Growth, Wellbeing, My Team, Giving Something Back, My Company, and Fair Deal. Detailed analysis is available through Best Companies at additional cost.


The Best Companies Accreditation follows the elite ‘Michelin style’ star rating system for organisations that demonstrate high levels of employee engagement. Based on staff feedback, organisations receive a Best Companies’ index score which will determine their star rating compared to a fixed standard.

One star is first class, two stars are outstanding and three stars are extraordinary.

Best Companies uses the same process for both the Best Companies Accreditation and The Sunday Times 100 Best projects.

The process consists of two elements:• An employee survey• Organisation questionnaire (this consists of four parts)

Your organisation’s score comes from the employee survey and is dependent upon how highly your people score the organisation according to the eight factors the survey measures.

The required percentage of completed surveys is as follows:• Small companies (50-249) - 40% or 30 whichever is the greater • Mid-sized companies (250-4,999) - 40%• Big-sized companies (5,000 plus) - 30%

The Sunday Times Top 100 and Best Companies Accreditation – how it works

Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar

Company registration

Surveying of employees

Completion of Company Questionnaire

Evaluations and site visits

Notification of star status

Awards presentation

The timeline

The costs

Best Companies provide an online calculator to assist organisations with planning and budgeting for the process. To find out more visit:

http://www.bestcompanies.co.uk/listmechanics.aspx?SurveyType=Accreditation

Best Companies’ costs includes a top line summary to reveal how an organisation has scored in each of the eight workplace factors that Best Companies measure: Leadership, My Manager, Personal Growth, Wellbeing, My Team, Giving Something Back, My Company, and Fair Deal. Detailed analysis is available through Best Companies at additional cost.

Kelly Field, Associate Consultant

Kelly joined Athene in January 2012 after nearly eight years heading up communications at Peterborough’s largest housing association, Cross Keys Homes. During her time there she developed a successful award-winning brand which engaged staff, customers, stakeholders and the media alike.

In addition to The Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies’ success Kelly led on the company’s achievement of the government’s Customer Service Excellence award (2009 and 2011), Investors in People accreditation and Personnel Today Magazine’s Employer Branding Award 2007.

Kelly chaired the National Housing Federation’s (NHF) East of England PR and communications practitioner group for six years. In this role she was responsible for co-ordinating regional campaigns and supporting 25 communication professionals in their awareness raising of the NHF.

She has spoken at national events on a range of communication topics, including employer branding, customer engagement and customer feedback. She previously worked as a senior news and political reporter on an evening newspaper.

Our Team

Richard Astle, Managing Director

Before setting up Athene in June 2003, Richard was Corporate Affairs Director for AMP Pearl, one of the country’s leading financial services groups.He specialises in developing comprehensive communication plans for a range of projects and change programmes, working mainly in the financial services and public sectors. Richard won the Institute

of Public Relations Sword of Excellence for public affairs in 2000.

In addition to Kelly and Richard, Athene has a 10-strong team of communication and marketing professionals, who work across the PR and communications, marketing and community engagement specialisms.

T: 01733 207340






C

Introduction




Contact

Athene Communications Ltd25 Priestgate Peterborough PE1 1JLT: 01733 207340www.athene-communications.co.uk

The Sunday Times Top 100 support package

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Sunday Times 100 Check List