Training company Happy Computers is 2nd best place to work in UK
Happy Computers were this week revealed as the UK runner up in the Best Workplaces awards. Celebrating mistakes, fully trusting your staff and giving them the freedom to work the way they want are key to this success. Happy believes any company can work this way and is setting up a new division, Happy People, to train companies to become great workplaces.
The Great Place to Work Institute has this week revealed that Happy Computers came 2nd in the UK in its Best Workplace awards. The top 10 was published in the Financial Times earlier this year without rankings, but it has now been revealed that Happy, a training company based in central London, were a close runner up to winner Beaverbrooks.
"We are so proud and delighted", explained Founder and Chief Executive Henry Stewart. "Everything we do is based on the belief that people work best when they feel good about themselves. If staff are motivated and valued you can achieve so much. This is fabulous recognition."
The ranking was based on anonymous online surveys filled in by staff, combined with a Culture Audit carried out by the Institute and then compared to the hundreds of other companies that entered. Happy had previously been 12th in 2004 and 11th in 2006. The company scored especially strongly on integrity, trust, involving people in decisions and responsibility to the wider community.
Happy are keen to share what they know and plan to launch a new division - Happy People - shortly, with the aim of teaching others how to create a great place to work. "There are simple steps that any company can take to improve", explains Henry. "Providing there is commitment right to the top we believe we can help any organisation become a great workplace. Key steps include creating a no-blame culture, trusting your people and giving them genuine freedom to do things the way they think is best, while providing a clear framework to work within."
The comments made by staff on the survey reflect the unique environment of Happy:
"We celebrate mistakes, can work from home, can do flexible working, get a free lunch, get a cycling allowance, have a say in all important decisions, are treated with respect and kindness, are fully involved in shaping the character of the business. The free ice creams for all at 4pm is the best thing."
"I've never worked (and probably never will work) at a place which offers such freedom to manage you're own time and workload."
"What is unique about Happy is that management leaves us to do our job as we like, as long as targets are met. We are never told how to do something, they leave it to
our judgement."
"Whenever i make mistakes I am not told off. Instead we celebrate mistakes here so I truly learn from them. I feel secure here and I feel I can do my best because I
am trusted!!."
"I have worked in many huge blue-chip organisations and none of them can hold a candle to Happy for how it treats and respects its staff. Life balance, compressed hours, time off for study, skills development and supervisory/management responsibility are all readily available."