At Raise the Bar, we know that success begins with a team that feels valued, connected, and inspired. Building an environment where people can bring their whole selves to work matters just as much as reaching our business goals. In fact, it is one of our business goals! With a remote workforce spread across the UK, ensuring everyone feels heard and part of something bigger is essential to our success.
But where geography presents a barrier, technology helps us break it right back down, because we don’t just keep in touch, we get things done together. From project kick-offs that bring diverse voices into the room early, to asynchronous updates that respect people’s schedules, our ways of working are built to foster belonging and high performance at the same time.
Bingo, Banter & People in Boxes
Last week, we gathered for a virtual social to celebrate the Women’s Euro Football Championships with a comedy bingo night on Zoom! We kicked things off with a high-energy playlist, then laughed our way through bingo calls, virtual high fives, questionable dancing, and good-natured banter.
Children, pets, and partners were all invited to join in and join in they did! It was a perfect reminder that we’re not just faces in boxes on a Teams call. We’re real people, juggling all sorts of life stuff as well as being part of the Raise the Bar dream team.
Celebrating Milestones, Not Just Metrics
Colleagues based near our Merseyside HQ are always welcome to work from the office, whether to collaborate, innovate, or just strengthen those real-life connections.
Recently, we came together to help our Head of Client Solutions celebrate a milestone birthday. The team chipped in for thoughtful gifts and cards, but even those further afield didn’t miss out, we presented a showreel of their heart-warming video messages and seeing her light up (and cry!) reminded us that spending time recognising people for who they are, not just performance and what they do matters.
When people feel understood, valued, and part of something meaningful, we create psychological safety, and our team trust us to bring their best ideas, unique personalities and energy to the table.
We recently launched Special Occasion Leave too. With such a hard-working team spread across towns, cities, coasts, and valleys, we wanted to make sure we didn’t miss the moments that matter. So, as a gift from the business, team members can now take a paid day of leave to celebrate what’s important to them, whether it’s their own birthday, a child’s graduation, a partner’s milestone, or even moving house. It’s our way of saying: Congratulations! We see you. And if we could, we’d be right there popping champagne with you!
Culture is hard to describe; it’s the way we do things.
Here are a few other reasons why being part of the Raise the Bar team absolutely rocks:
- Core hours, flexitime, and flexible working: You are empowered to fit life’s to-do list around your work one.
- Quality time with the business owners: That’s right — we’re owner-run! That means insight, motivation and inspiration on tap! (For them as well as you!)
- Diary empowerment: Plan space for social interaction, personal development, innovation, or focus time — it’s up to you. Set your status and watch your colleagues thrive in your wake.
- Positive feedback culture: If someone’s amazing, we tell them. If we see someone raising the bar, you can count on the team to shout about it.
- Access to the latest thought leaders and learning content: When we say chimp, you’ll definitely say paradox! (If you know, you know, and if you don’t, you soon will.)
At Raise the Bar, we know our culture is the glue that holds our community together whether we’re celebrating on an evening, sharing ideas in a Teams chat, or brainstorming on the boardroom glass walls. It creates an environment where everyone feels safe to be themselves, to say what hasn’t been said, and to listen to those who haven’t yet been heard.
We are a team bound by shared values, not just a group of workers and job titles. That connection fuels the trust, creativity, and collaboration that helps us do meaningful work, together.