Cognisess Ltd believes having a recognised Charter gives them a plan to work from and sets out “what good looks like”

What good employment standards do you have in place (in relation to the seven characteristics of the Charter)?

We do not have zero hour contracts, we offer flexible working, with core hours and the ability to work from home and do not employ anyone below the Real Living Wage.

Employee Engagement is a constant focus; with department heads meeting every week to voice their teams' opinions/suggestions. Anonymous surveys are held to "take the temperature", gauge team morale and ensure a 360-degree flow of communication.

We have regular activities such as kayaking and "beer and pizza" nights provided by the company. Potential hires are first asked to complete assessments on our platform to ensure a bias-free selection process.

Why have you chosen to put these standards in place?

Retention in a smaller organisation is vital as recruitment costs increase, getting it right matters more when you are an SME. Working to best practice and recognised guidelines helps keep us honest and ensures Employee Experience is always at the forefront of everything we do.

How do you think the Charter and its support network can help other businesses looking to implement similar standards?

We have a limited HR capacity and so a lot of what we implement is from team suggestions and feedback. Having a recognised charter gives us a plan to work from and sets out "what good looks like".

How do you think the standards positively impact your employees and business as a whole?

Cost is a factor, we cannot afford to lose good people after taking the time to train them. But even more important is the individual themselves; someone who is happy in their role is more productive, engaged and forthcoming with new and exciting ideas. We have an excellent product, but it's our people that make us who we are.

What do you think the benefits are of introducing good employment practice across the West of England?

A standardised set of good practice is essential to keeping talent in the region. We cannot lose people to the South East or other areas when the region has so much more to offer.

Working from home means jobs are much more accessible than they previously were and it's vital employers recognise that their staff have more options than before. Employing these guidelines will lead to happier people, who choose to stay.

Become an employer of choice

About the Charter

The Good Employment Charter is an accreditation scheme that aims to improve employment standards in the West of England for organisations of all sizes and sectors, through characteristics that will raise the value and quality of work, allowing employers to become an ‘employer of choice’, leading them to higher staff retention rates, better productivity and contributing to a thriving economy.

The West of England Good Employment Charter will set the standard for working practices in the region. Supporting businesses of any size or sector to improve investment in their staff, enabling more inclusive, equitable & sustainable working practices, positively benefiting people, society, and the wider economy.