Colleagues of Nursery on the Green in Redbourn got a boost this month with their company’s plan to raise pay again by an average eight percent and provide up to £3,000 extra cash over six months to meet soaring energy bills.

Taking profit sharing to the next level at the employee-owned company, Childbase Partnership – a UK best workplace award-winner for 13 years – is extending the financial support to new recruits to the Nursery on the Green team, with contracted hours, who will receive up to £100 a month, until April 2023, based on hours worked.

The Comet:

The reward means that full timers contributing to the company’s success during the last financial year will get six, monthly, tax-free payments of up to £500 each starting on December 1, and ending on May 1, 2023, with pro-rata payments for others.

This is alongside access to ‘Perkbox’ discounted shopping, two meals a day in nursery throughout the winter months, and enhanced company training and mentoring to get colleagues to new qualifications and further hikes in salary.

Childbase Partnership Chief Executive Officer, Emma Rooney said: “Every employee is a partner in our business, and we stand together during tough times. Ensuring the security and wellbeing of colleagues is not only vital to our mission to achieve the best possible outcomes for every child in our care, it is also, quite simply, the right thing to do.”

The new pay rises – with starting rates for Qualified Level 3 practitioners ranging from £11.50 an hour to £13.00 an hour in high cost of living areas - follow a record tax-free, profit-sharing ‘Partnership Dividend’ payment of £1,500 for qualifying full-timers from Apprentices to the Chairman in January 2022.

The Comet:

Reward, recognition and ‘more perks’

Explaining the plan to colleagues, Emma Rooney said the need to act quickly with additional financial support during the cost-of-living crisis did not distract from the focus on maintaining and enhancing the current range of benefits and wellbeing initiatives, increasing loyalty payments to long-servers, cash gifts recognising exceptional effort and achievement throughout the year; and investment in the tools and facilities they need as early years educators.

Investing in mental health and wellbeing

Holiday entitlements are set to be increased in April 2023 with new starters allocated 23 days annually rising by a day each year of employment to a maximum 28 days. The July introduction of the award-winning, NHS validated, Thrive App with access to a team of clinical therapists and more than 100 hours of expert-recommended activity and techniques to help track wellbeing, is designed to help colleagues become more resilient and prevent mental health conditions developing.

This complements the existing round-the clock access to external confidential counselling services with experts providing immediate emotional support, advice and practical information 365 days a year.

Join a ‘World class’’ team

Childbase Partnership was rated ‘World Class’ and No. 1 (2020) and No. 2 (2021) UK ‘Best Large Company to Work For’ in the prestigious Best Companies league tables, and before that, was a ‘Sunday Times Best Company’ for 10 years.

Get the detail on: childbasecareers.com