Midcounties' employees get a voice in big and small conversations: Good internal communications help co‐operative to achieve award

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to detail some of the policies that have helped Midcounties Co‐operative to become one of the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For.

Design/methodology/approach

It underlines the importance of good internal communications and employee development.

Findings

It observes that the society's graduate program provides an opportunity for students with a 2:2 honours degree or better to gain experience across the society. They undertake six, four‐month placements in different areas of the business. The graduates also carry out a project relevant to their placements.

Practical implications

The paper describes the experiences of a number of people on the society's graduate program and reveals that training opportunities are among the reasons that employees rate the company as good to work for.

Social implications

It reveals that employees are allowed to spend up to three paid days a year volunteering.

Originality/value

The paper shows why employees rate highly the experience of working at Midcounties Co‐operative.

Citation

(2013), "Midcounties' employees get a voice in big and small conversations: Good internal communications help co‐operative to achieve award", Human Resource Management International Digest, Vol. 21 No. 6, pp. 18-20. https://doi.org/10.1108/HRMID-08-2013-0061