Supporting Bellway on their employee engagement journey

Solution:

Running a comprehensive survey and adopting a data-driven approach to taking action

Result:

Realising the benefits for colleagues and the business of becoming a 'destination employer'

Challenge

Helping Bellway to measure employee engagement

In 2020, ETS were invited to design the first ever Bellway engagement survey. The aim was to gain insights and robust data that would help Bellway to create a culture where colleagues feel psychologically safe and that their voice is heard.

A key marker of success for Bellway was advocacy; having their colleagues recommend Bellway as a great place to work was the ultimate goal. Achieving this would have many strategic benefits including retaining the best people, delivering a quality customer experience and continuing to challenge how things are done in the sector.

Solution

Designing an employee survey to provide rich, relevant data

ETS engaged with key stakeholders to build a picture of the current internal landscape (business and people) and the latest industry context to facilitate the capture of highly relevant data.

The confidential methodology and agreed minimum reporting numbers ensured colleagues would feel safe to speak up.

Our later analysis of survey results delivered insights on key topics including:

1) EDI, providing Bellway with clarity on the experiences of colleagues from diverse backgrounds

2) Performance and development, giving Bellway the baseline data highlighting the importance of quarterly performance discussions which led to their investment in an online performance management platform

3) Belonging, providing a focussed lens on new joiners, to understand their experience at Bellway and whether they were getting the support they needed.

Following the successful embedding of the annual all-colleague survey, and informed by ETS recommendations to evolve and improve it each year, Bellway has delivered several additional internal channels and forums to create a comprehensive employee voice programme.

These have included:

- ‘Pathway’ – A mobile app to enable colleagues to stay connected & updated

- Employee Listening Groups which meet quarterly to discuss issues and ideas around the colleague experience

- Balance Network – A colleague-led group, focussing on wellbeing and equity

- ‘Bricking It’– Bellway’s colleague-led podcast

- ‘Mi Experience’ – An online portal supporting the delivery of regular and high quality 121 conversations

“We wanted to move to a more data-led approach, ensuring our people strategy was underpinned with regular and reliable data. This would ensure all our efforts were spent in the right places. The bespoke approach, expertise and consultancy support offered by ETS made them a great fit for the task.”

Heidi Khoshtaghaza, Group HR Director

Result

Realising their goal of becoming a 'destination employer'

Bellway has been successful in identifying and taking actions that have had a measurable impact on things including:

- Engagement overall (93%)

- Intention to stay (94%)

- ‘Recommending Bellway as a great place to work’ - the ultimate goal of this programme, which increased by +4% points (91%)

Over this journey, they have also seen the proportion of female colleagues increase from 30% to 34% - a key strategic focus as part of Bellway's 'Women into Home Building' programme.