Number of staff ... 286
Male/female ratio ... 36/64
Average age ... 41
Staff turnover ... 10%
Earning £35,000+ ... 18%
www.broadland.gov.uk

Practices Teams within service areas at Broadland District Council in Norfolk are developed and strengthened through events such as an activity day for the policy unit, team-building exercises for the training services and business development teams and a team-building day for playscheme staff at the start of summer activity programmes.

Broadland supports charity fund-raising events such as bake-a-cake days and the Pudsey paddle, and the council office car park can be used on football match days in exchange for voluntary donations to Norwich Lions. The council supplies safety equipment for community groups to undertake community clean-ups and then collects and disposes of the rubbish.

All new employees meet their relevant director and have a one-to-one meeting with the chief executive. The council’s one-day induction programme is always introduced by one of the directors or the chief executive. This means that newcomers meet members of the top team in a setting that is relatively open and informal.

Strong leaders are the key to motivating staff

Council supremos help the top five employers to topple last year’s best performers

BACKGROUND

• Best council rules

• Special award winners

Related Internet Links

• Best Councils 2008 table

The council encourages second-ments as one way of developing staff and giving them new experiences. It also encourages staff to have wide roles involving a range of responsibilities such as representing the council at external meetings.

The council recognises the value of managers interacting with and learning from sectors other than local government. Staff have attended management programmes where the other participants are from the private sector and Common Purpose, a national networking and development programme for emerging and existing leaders.

Broadland has been successful in gaining places on the Fit for Business project (a wellbeing programme funded by the National Lottery). This means it will receive free training for two workplace champions who will plan and implement a programme for the council to promote physical activity, healthy eating, smoking cessation, mental health issues and drug and alcohol awareness.

Pay and benefits Job sharing, home working, compressed hours and reduced hours are available for all employees, as is flexitime. Employees do not have core hours to adhere to and can work a minimum five-hour day if necessary.

Broadland has a scheme of performance-related pay, which rewards staff for their contribution to the organisation, assessed against objectives agreed through appraisals.

Practical wellbeing benefits on offer include weekly massages to relieve stress, a lunchtime walking club, confidential and independent counselling and yoga classes.

There is a flexible benefits package so employees have some choice over which benefits they receive.

Return to The Best Councils to Work For table

Times Recommends

• Inspirational leadership
• How to get a new job
• The reluctant CEO