Number of staff ... 320
Male/female ratio ... 49/51
Average age ... 45
Staff turnover ... 18%
Earning £35,000+ ... 13%
www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Practices A communications strategy has been implemented by Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, in Surrey, covering internal and external communications. Improvements include the introduction of a corporate team brief, which includes time to celebrate staff success.

Among other innovations for improving communications are directors’ walkabouts, managers’ conferences, a new intranet and a chief executive’s blog. The council is also streamlining the use of its logo and is using innovative ways to keep staff informed, such as attaching postcards to payslips.

Managers try to ensure that their team members receive recognition for their efforts through informal and formal thank-yous, appraisals and team meetings. Staff who choose to support a charity will be given space and support on the council intranet. The council also offers free rooms and reduced rent for charities and community groups in the town hall.

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The council has a management development programme for all managers and supervisors. Every six months it holds managers’ conferences.

Wellbeing initiatives include subsidised aromatherapy massages, available to staff every other Friday for a small fee. Also on offer are a staff gym area, lunchtime walks, quarterly health checks and free flu inoculations. The council also provides two pool bicycles for staff to use, plus cycle parking spaces. There are showers and a changing room.

Pay and benefits Flexible working options include job sharing, home working, reduced hours, term-time and school-hours working and flexi-time. The council provides a flexible benefits package that includes performance-related pay, discounted tickets for the Playhouse Theatre in Epsom, subsidised gym membership, subsidised parking for all staff and an employee assistance programme available to staff and their families.

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