2021 Best place to work

The company has initiated a number of flexible working initiatives, such as paid ‘Me Days’ to improve wellbeing and work-life balance, and have 30% of staff on non-standard hours.

Paid bereavement and miscarriage leave are in place, and has regular one-to-one meetings with HR to help staff deal with personal and professional problems and tackle any obstacles to career progression.

Empower has a staff retention rate of 91% and has grown the company to 33 people, up from 17 in December 2020. New graduates are 10% of staff, and 85% originated outside the industry.

‘Smart KPIs’ are used to help give every member of staff a structured job description, as well as competency matrices and a transparent career path.

In 2021, 21% of the team either received a promotion from junior to middle management or filled an internal position. Probation pass rates are also at 96%.

Empower has signed the MRS inclusion and net zero pledges, and has an application to become a B-Corporation pending.

The business has also focused on diversity and equality, with anonymised work assessments and subconscious bias training for recruiters. All new vacancies are advertised internally to provide career change opportunities.

Empower has also run four successful internship programmes in the last two years, with one resulting in a permanent role.

The company has a football team and an e-sports team, runs charity events and encourages staff to embrace transparency and inclusion.

This included a company meeting in June where every team member spoke about an LGBTQ+ person who has inspired them.

The company also promotes continuous professional development (CPD), with the team logging 1,195 hours of CPD in 2020 and Empower funding training across all employment areas in management, translation technology, project management, health and safety, language learning and mental health.

Empower also offers funding and paid day release to support individuals’ studies.