Working for a sustainable business that prioritises wellbeing
This article originally appeared in Jobs and Careers Magazine, which you can read here.
Research regularly points to higher levels of job satisfaction amongst UK employees that work for environmentally responsible employers. Smart energy solutions company, SMS plc, is on a mission to prove this so.
Did you know that 70% of professionals working in the sustainability sector said that they are satisfied or highly satisfied in their jobs, according to a survey by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment? The recent study highlighted how these employees said they were generally happier compared to the national average owing to factors such as competitive pay, career mobility, and environmentally-friendly commitments.
When you consider that sustainable employers often count social responsibility as a core value that underpins their business operations, it is perhaps not surprising to hear therefore that these organisations are highly ranked when it comes to improving the employee experience. SMS plc, the UK’s leading smart energy solutions provider, is a case in point.
Leading the smart energy revolution
Headquartered in Glasgow, with operations across England, Wales, and Ireland (including a nationwide staff of engineers and a fast growing, flexible workforce of both office and home-based employees) SMS’s mission is to deliver the future of smart, low-carbon energy.
It does this through the financing, installation, and management of smart meters and other renewable and clean technology assets, such as solar panels, battery storage, and electric vehicle charging. Whilst the ongoing national rollout of smart meters is crucial to helping create a smarter, greener, and more affordable future energy system, SMS today continues to build its business to deliver a whole range of energy innovations that are geared towards a more environmentally-friendly world. In doing so, SMS is helping its customers across Britain lower their carbon footprints and their energy costs.
This diverse set of solutions has created huge opportunities for employment across a variety of business areas, professions, and expertise, with SMS establishing itself as one of the fastest growing companies in the UK energy space over the past decade.
Prioritising sustainability and employee wellbeing
As SMS has experienced growth of its business and services – expanding from 100 employees in 2011 to more than 1,000 employees today – its focus has always been on responsible and sustainable development. Such focus comes not only in terms of its environmental efforts (the company has committed to reduce its own carbon emissions to ‘net zero’ by 2030) but also in how it strives to continuously improve workplace experience and wellbeing. These efforts were recognised in 2020 with a number of accreditations, notably for the way the company supported its employees through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including being shortlisted for Employer of the Year at the Utility Week Awards.
With Safety & Wellbeing accounting for one of SMS’s five core values (the others encouraging a culture of Sustainability, Pride, Innovation, and Customer Excellence), when COVID-19 lockdown restrictions arrived in the UK last year SMS was especially keen to ensure that the mental and physical health of its workforce was looked after.
Within a matter of days SMS launched a dedicated Employee Wellbeing section on its Group Intranet, including features such as exclusive mindfulness classes, stretching and workout sessions, and a whole host of other online wellbeing resources to cater for the transition of its workforce to home working (as well as the many other challenges presented by the pandemic including bereavement, domestic violence, and home schooling). To complement these benefits, SMS increased its number of internal ‘Mental Health First Aiders’ to ensure there was extra support on the ground and always a friendly, helping hand available to any colleagues in need.
Recognising and rewarding employees
Whilst wellbeing is at the heart of SMS’s philosophy to put its people first, the company’s culture is also built on foundations of engagement, recognition, and reward. This means it looks to take continuous steps forward through listening to employees and therefore helping build a better workplace that is based on feedback and positive change. Recent measures include improvements to its package of benefits (up to 30 days leave plus bank holidays, an enhanced maternity scheme, and flexible working arrangements), investment in internal communications, and a new Values Awards scheme that recognises and rewards employees through a range of prizes.
Such efforts are today paying off, both for the company and its people. When SMS last surveyed its workforce in February 2021, it was accredited as ‘One to Watch’ by Best Companies for significantly enhancing its levels of workplace engagement, which leads to happier, healthier employees.
Interested in joining SMS’s low-carbon revolution and working for a business that puts employee welfare at the top of its priorities? As a growing company, SMS is always on the lookout for exceptional talent across a variety of professions, from project coordinators to dual fuel and electrical engineers, and software developers.
VISIT THE SMS CAREERS PAGE
