At FI, we continuously strive towards creating a training provider where people are at the heart of everything we do – students and the FI team alike. We believe that our team is the key to the fantastic study experience we deliver to students and employers, but also what makes FI a great place to work. Being recognised for this is proof that a people-first approach works.
About the Sunday Times Best Places to Work awards
The Sunday Time Best Places to Work list is compiled from the results of a nationwide workplace survey. It recognises and celebrates Britain’s best employers – which include over 500 organisations across various industries and business sizes. Placement on the list showcases the best workplaces for women, LGBTQIA+ community, disabled employees, ethnic minorities, younger and older workers, and wellbeing.
How FI was recognised
The Sunday Times Best Places to Work survey measures employee wellbeing, engagement, and discretionary effort at work. The survey is developed by behavioural scientists, psychologists, data analysts, business leaders, academics and other independent parties. To achieve a high overall engagement score, an organisation must score highly in six key areas:
1. Reward and Recognition
2. Instilling Pride
3. Information Sharing
4. Empowerment
5. Wellbeing
6. Job Satisfaction
At First Intuition, we are continuously developing new initiatives and ways of working that make FI a fantastic place to work. To demonstrate just a few aspects that the team value:
We’re proud to be a Living Wage accredited employer
As well as being a Living Wage accredied employer, we’ve introduced many benefits in the last 18 months, including an EAP, PMI, and a share scheme. We have a mix of working from home and in-centre roles available for most colleagues, matching our blended learning approach for learners. We encourage flexible working applications, which contribute to a healthy work-life balance.
Role-specific training and personal development opportunities
We are currently developing role-specific training and further personal development programmes targeted at growing the emotional intelligence and resilience of ‘Team FI’. Wellbeing and the ability to be authentic with each other are fundamentally important to us, and we have regular social functions to encourage positive inter-team relationships: especially important with our hybrid-working. We recognise the work-life balance benefits of this, but don’t neglect the importance of building good relationships, both internally and with our clients and learners. Our Employee Assistance Programme is available 24 hours a day, to support any colleague facing challenges, personal or professional.
Visible, approachable leaders
Our leaders and managers are visible, accessible, and approachable. Few organisations would share with their people the level of financial information that we do regularly. Transparency and collegiality are encouraged throughout our centres, and our directors demonstrate this daily. Our CEO’s key take-away for how to interact with each other at FI is “always ask each other how we can help”.
On being recognised, Martin Taylor, FI Ltd CEO, commented:
“First Intuition has been acknowledged with various awards over the years but this is probably the acknowledgement I have appreciated the most. Fundamentally we want FI to be somewhere our team really enjoy being part of so that we are able to deliver a great experience to our students and clients. This demonstrates that we are definitely on the right track”.
Claire Smith, FI Ltd HR Manager, said:
“I’m so proud to work for one of The Sunday Times’ Best Places to Work 2024. We’re growing and evolving so fast that I am in awe, daily, of the enthusiasm and commitment of my colleagues to serve the varying needs of our learners and clients nationwide. As an HR professional, to work in an environment where the value of our people is truly understood, and to be able to build a framework of policies that support the wellbeing and development of all employees, is incredibly rewarding“.
Join the team at FI Ltd
At FI, we wholeheartedly support our learners and clients, delighting in their successes. If you share our passion and eagerness to cultivate tomorrow’s talent, you could be a perfect match for our team. Find vacancies at FI Ltd here.