We are very pleased to announce that Sense Internet - a leader in web design, build and communications since 1995 - has scooped 11th place in a national campaign by Marketing magazine to find the marketing agencies that staff most enjoy working for. The top 30 was announced in the December issue of Marketing.
Sense beat some of the biggest names in the business through the way the company communicates and engages with its 25+ staff - and its openness with them, which includes collaboration over business strategy, training and the way the company is run.
These characteristics were introduced from the start by Aidan Cook - Sense Internet founder and managing director - whose vision included Sense being a leader in progressive employment and management strategies.
As a result, Sense experiences a high level of staff retention in an industry that has been notorious for job hopping and a skills shortage. More than half the company have been there for longer than five years.
"It is basically all about being selfish - I don't want to work somewhere I don't like, so I've made sure I do work that's interesting, get loads of holidays, get paid a fair wage, leave on time, like my colleagues and have a beer at my desk on a Friday afternoon," says Cook. "It suits me, so it is probably what everyone else here likes. Too many business owners view their staff as leeches who are there to drain money from the company, rather than remembering they can also be trained to catch fish, open bottles, and play simple musical instruments."
Sense force regular days off on their staff, giving a total of over 40 days holiday every year. Staff with three years' service can take a six week sabbatical, while six years at Sense qualifies for a one year sabbatical. In addition, staff own a 25% share of the company and profits.
The positive staff feedback was boosted by Sense's strong environmental and sustainability policies, which are popular with staff and are biased towards helping charities.