As many of you know, our 'Meet the Team' blogs are extremely popular and help readers to understand more about our team and how they help us to engineer change.

This month we speak to HR & Wellbeing Lead at Mando – Dee Walsh

Briefly explain your role as HR and Wellbeing Lead here at Mando.

"I have worked at Mando since 2016.  Initially as HR Manager, looking after the usual recruitment, onboarding, training, admin and support tasks for the team and their managers. 

"In recent years my role has extended to include wellbeing, meaning that I balance the need for compliance and productivity with the emotional needs of our staff.

"As a result of this we have created three internal working groups  - Diversity and Inclusion, Social and Wellbeing, and Sustainability. These groups meet regularly and send out surveys to help shape their strategies. 

"We also invite suggestions for improvement from the wider team to ensure that we are meeting their needs."

Why is Mando such a great place to work?

"Mando is a team of individuals who come together to create amazing things.  Whether that is a business initiative, client project, improvements to the office space and our ways of working.

"Leadership are inclusive and honest at Mando.  The Operations Board work hard to represent the teams within the business to ensure equality, change and a positive future for all.

"The employees work hard for the greater good and most importantly care about one another, there is a real feel of support and encouragement.  We never stand still.

"The office space is modern, open and has an incredible terrace for those warm days.  We are in city centre Liverpool, with easy access to the waterfront, shopping area and plenty bars and restaurants."

How important is the culture at Mando?

"It is critical.  I have worked for 30 years and Mando is the best business I have worked in, in terms of supporting the people. 

"Every single exit interview I do, every ENPS cycle, every staff survey mentions the people – we have passionate, driven, kind, fun, dedicated experts in every area and we look after one another."

What incentives can potential employees expect from Mando?

"We offer the usual salary and pension.  Our holidays start at 25 days plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days plus bank holidays.  We then give staff their birthday day off too.

"In order to develop our staff we offer a generous personal learning budget for courses, conferences, books, e-learning, coaching etc, alongside 24/7 access to an e-learning platform with over 80k courses. 

"We have private medical cover, including cash back for optical and dental procedures, physio,  and some holistic therapies.

"Staff at Mando can access discounted gym membership, parking and counselling. 

"We have regular social activities – from games nights to formal parties and everything in between.  We have lots of awareness events – pride march, beach clean, alcohol awareness, etc. "

How does the business support individuals and employees in terms of training?

"We use the Go1 learning platform for e-learning.  We then have the individual budgets for whatever is best for that person – conferences, classroom training, technical training, coaching, books, online courses. 

"We also do peer reviews three times a year, at which we assess any training needs and we also offer regular company wide training and have recently delivered a series of consultancy and agile thinking bootcamps.

"We also provide technical skills training, using the platforms and DXPs that we develop on, such as Sitecore, Optimizely, Microsoft Azure."

How does the business support individuals and employees in terms of wellbeing?

"I am a MHFA England adult and youth mental health instructor and have volunteered with Shout and Childline as a counsellor, whilst studying for my Counselling qualification.

"I also train the Ambassador of Hope programme for national charity, Chasing the Stigma and I am a trainer for national charity Drinkaware.  I have my own mental health and wellbeing business, and work with businesses across the UK, this puts me in a unique position and means I can bring best practice back to Mando and have much more empathy with our team than maybe someone in my position without the benefit of those insights.

"I have a long and trusted relationship with our team and do regular check-ins with them, offering wellbeing coaching and signposting as situations arise.

"We have a flexible working policy, where within traditional working hours we actively encourage our team to walk the dog, do the school run, go to the gym, meet friends for lunch, etc. so that they are taking breaks and looking after their physical and mental health

"We also operated a hybrid working pattern, meaning that people can work where they want, providing we can all meet up for important social events /collaborative working to maintain the culture and develop the relationships that are so important to how we work

"We are also training our Line Managers as Mental Health Champions. "

What accreditations does Mando currently hold or is working towards

"We are ISO certified for quality, environmental, health and safety and information security.  We have had Investors in People for many years and are working towards BCorp."

A collaborative atmosphere is vital for a good working environment, please explain the importance of the working groups.

"We have our functional teams (Development, Experience, IT, Project Management, etc.), project teams (client focused) and then our steering groups.  Functional team meetings provide a great space for innovation and technical excellence.

"Project teams work towards that common goal of meeting the Clients needs. 

"Steering groups help to make the world a better place – whether within or outside Mando.  We take our employee’s suggestions and put them into a now, next and future plan to build a place where everyone thrives and loves to work."

To find out more about current vacancies, the work we do or any other opportunities to work with us, why not get in touch? Contact our team today...