In order to position itself as an employer of choice, UK-based engineering consultancy Roq offers its workforce a range of benefits to attract and retain top talent.
It provides its 120 employees with wellbeing and financial benefits including help towards healthcare costs through a health cash plan, enhanced sick pay, enhanced maternity and paternity pay, enhanced employer pension contribution rate of 6%, long-service awards, and both employee and client referral incentives. It also offers annual leave that increases with service, starting at 25 days plus bank holidays for up to two years and rising to 30 days plus bank holidays after eight years.
Every member of staff has the option to work remotely within the UK through its remote-first approach, so they can work in a way that suits them and their lifestyles.
Roq's employee promise focuses on the social aspects of work and building strong relationships through regular meetups, Zoom and Microsoft Teams meetings which feature yoga, quizzes, games, show and tell, meeting employees' pets, and its initiative Roq Houses, where workers earn house points. In order to ensure staff feel valued, the consultancy aims to maintain a family-friendly environment that offers employees a good work-life balance through its workplace culture.
Another core benefit Roq offers is promotion prospects and the opportunity for upskilling and progression, explains Sarah Riggott, head of people at Roq. This aligns with the organisation's preference to promote from within.
“We invest in the training and development of all employees and have made the most of the increasing advantage of online learning,” she says. “Virtual training is much more accessible, thus enabling us to build a higher-skilled and inclusive workforce. Every member of the Roq team has a dedicated career support manager to help them work toward their career aspirations, who provides resources, coaching and guidance to help them achieve their goals.”
When reviewing its benefits each year, Roq asks employees what matters most to them, so that their opinions directly influence what is included. The employer attributes this approach to its 91.5% employee retention rate, its average 2.18 years length of service, and number of promotions, referrals and recommendations.
Riggott believes that it is important to strive to be an employer of choice to overcome recruitment challenges and to stand out in a tight labour market. She puts Roq’s success down to its genuine desire to be a great place to work, validated by its Investors in People Platinum accreditation in March this year.
“We invest heavily in people, focusing on delivering quality through continuous improvement, and don’t just hire people based on experience and qualifications. We support our employees in learning new skills and achieving their goals, which aids growth, attraction and retention, and ensuring we succeed together in an ever-changing market. We see that the drive and determination of these individuals, who need the opportunity to learn and grow, can be important to the business,” she concludes.
