TPP Recruitment – Finalist 2022, Best Small Employer
By proudly embracing flexible working, TPP Recruitment are able to be more inclusive, sustain a productive workforce, and ensure they are an appealing prospect for new talent.
Flexible working
TPP Recruitment have seen the benefit of flexible working for many years, offering flexibility in location and hours, available from day one. There are no prescriptive core hours, giving employees the freedom to choose a working pattern that suits them. Additional options include job sharing, compressed hours, sabbaticals, volunteer and green days, as well as buying and selling annual leave.
Senior executives lead by example, embracing and celebrating the positive impact flexibility has on employees and the business, with five of the nine strong senior team working part time. Many leaders are proactive in supporting parents and carers, for example running a parenting group that provides a space to come together to discuss challenges, get advice and share experiences. The COO is a mentor on the LeadersPlus programme, which supports parents to progress in their careers, and the CEO is a carer who openly talks about the challenges this presents whilst working full time, offering support to anyone who needs it.
Managing flexible working
Since flexible working is well established, managers are well versed in supporting employees around flexibility, sharing ideas and resources that facilitate flexible working. Managers are signposted to get support on new policies and use a checklist tool from LeadersPlus to support members of their team embarking or returning from family leave. There is a commitment to inclusion, with managers receiving training on person-centric management. Managers use psychometric tools such as Thomas International ‘How to Manage Remotely’ assessments.
TPP Recruitment aspire to be an industry-leading employer of choice and so are constantly evolving. They see themselves as a collective of people who work collaboratively, giving everyone a voice that can shape change. The senior team are open to reviewing suggestions and consult with staff to ensure the way in which we work is accessible and open to all, for example by offering various work patterns, regularly moving recurring meetings, recording meetings and having team charters about communication.
Attracting the right people
TPP Recruitment are committed to retaining and attracting diverse talent and see being a flexible employer as key to achieving this. In the last six months they have hired eight people who have joined as a direct result of having flexible working options and have seen a significant improvement in the rate of women returning after maternity leave because of flexibility on offer.