Written by John Swire
Herefordshire-based CXCS has won a national award, recognising excellence among dairy industry employers.
The firm scooped the ‘Supply Trade Employer of the Year’ category in British Dairying’s 2020 Cream Awards, announced last night (February 5) in Warwickshire.
CXCS, a firm of advisers helping farmers with paperwork and legislation compliance, wowed the judges with its progressive, positive and responsible approach to staff recruitment, retention and motivation.
“In an age when young people are all-too-often forced – or choose – to leave the countryside for employment in towns and cities, we offer rewarding, professional jobs and a modern workplace culture in a beautiful rural location,” says CXCS Managing Director Karen Powell.
The firm which employs 20-plus people, is already seen as one of the region’s ‘Employers of choice’, paying above-average salaries and offering more benefits than many other companies.
“We make sure we employ the best people then work hard to keep them energised and inspired,” adds Karen. “The team are given opportunities to develop or change their roles, allowing them to grow as individuals and so their talents can be deployed to best advantage.”
CXCS’s winning approach includes:
• A flexitime policy
• Staff given six-monthly appraisals and allowed as much time as they need for this
• Regular sessions with external trainers, including topics such as ‘Being assertive’ and ‘Stress management’
• Team ‘wellbeing walk’ twice a week before lunch
• Monthly team lunch paid by the employer
• Team-building days
• Discouraging emails at weekends or out of hours
• Staff evenings out
• Monthly 15-minute catch-ups with line leaders to “prevent problem acorns growing into oak trees”
• ‘Employee of the week’ scheme
• Appointment of a Wellbeing Officer
“It’s particularly gratifying to be recognised in the Cream Awards at the same time as we’re launching our own HR service, offering farmers support with everything from writing contracts and setting wages to running recruitment campaigns and launching training programmes,” says Karen.
“Many farmers are already great people-managers, but our new service will help take them to the next level, creating even more efficient, profitable and enjoyable workplaces.”
The ‘Supply Trade Employer of the Year’ award, sponsored by De Lacy Executive, was collected at Chesford Grange, Warwickshire, by Charles Mayson, who founded CXCS in 2009.
“I’m so proud that what started just over a decade ago with an idea and a notebook is now a firm with a phenomenally talented, hard-working team and 1,500 clients across the country,” Charles said.
“Our focus on staff is good for the company, but also good for clients who get to deal with people who are passionate about what they do and who will always go the extra mile,” he added.
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