We are going to have a treehouse, sheep and a gorilla.
My visit to the offices of Moneypenny
On September 8th, I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Masgroves INSIGHTS session at the offices of Moneypenny.
It was a great session packed full of practical tips on how to cut through the noise, and communicate effectively with your colleague. The session was held in the treehouse that takes pride of place in Moneypenny’s new offices opened by HRH Prince Charles only a few months ago.
I had a rather unusual route becoming an advocate of company culture. I began life as a technical architect and worked in the field for several years. it is of particular interest to see buildings that are designed to enhance the employee experience while also paying attention to the function of the building.
You can see by the pictures this is an incredible space, you can tell there is something special about a company like this. It was no surprise when I saw the various array of awards perched, pride of place on top of a red cow.
The attention to detail paid in this space is exceptional.
Technically the building is second to none, one of the first things I noticed on the tour where fantastic acoustics; and why? Moneypenny is the UK’S leading call answering service, but it is anything but a call centre. It is a group of individuals working towards the purpose of creating the best customer experience for their clients, this just happens to be over the phone.
That is why acoustics are so important, many of Moneypenny’s clients want to portray a quiet environment like if it was the quiet reception of a law or accountancy firm. This is a perfect example of the design of the building enhancing the function of the business.
The space is aesthetically fascinating, you are greeted by a 10 foot statue of a Gorilla so you know this isn’t any ordinary company. There are model sheep, a tree house and even an onsite pub appropriately named The Dog & Bone.
The open space is where staff meet for breakfast, all provided free of charge by Moneypenny. These are not just gimmicks, the staff built this space with the founders and the architects. This space is not only loved but respected and it is a testament to business.
It takes something special to get a Trustpilot rating of 9.8 and a staff turnover of 2% is almost unheard of, but I’m not surprised it is a clear indication of how a company with a unique and great culture delivers a great customer experience.
There was the perfect end to this day as I spent some time talking with Rachel Clacher, co-founder of Monneypenny and founder of WeMindTheGap. This is a great charity that fills the gaps in trainees’ lives with the things that the rest of us take for granted. The result? After six months, 7 out of 10 move from being wholly state-dependent on the state with few choices to make, to full-time work or education with many great choices.
It is exactly this type of partnership between businesses and charities that the Culture, Innovation & Sustainability Project wants to support.
If you would like to find out more, you might find these links useful.
https://www.moneypenny.com/uk/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-37275303
Experienced People Leader. Passionate about Culture, Values, Organisational Growth + Performance
7 年Great article and leading example of how to create an inspiring workplace for employees.. no doubt they hang this together with other broader people initiatives. Thanks for sharing!
Experienced Head of HR | Specialist in Comp & Ben, Business Partnering, Engagement and Employee Relations
7 年Great blog James Murphy FRSA. This business was really inspiring to visit! Certainly took some ideas away to implement back at Bristan Group.