Ensuring collaboration is at the heart of our company culture.
Our company strategy and objectives are set by listening to the management team, not just the board, creating visibility for what people are working on and encouraging collaborative opportunities. In-turn those managers regularly undertake informal catch ups, more formal team meetings, collaborative projects, or interactive tool-box talks, in short we encourage open communication and teamwork.
As an example we have a very open office environment where you can sit next to the CEO and people openly talk about the performance of the business and share ideas.
Every quarter all employees are encouraged to attend the All Hands meeting where the board presents the previous quarters results, updates on objectives as well as undertake polls to ensure the ideas and direction of the company are aligned with the collective opinion of everyone within the company.
Everyone wants to be a part of a journey and know the goals.
Our employees are encouraged to recommend new ways of doing things particularly if it worked from previous experience. Our employees are also encouraged to recommend candidates for job openings provided that they have the relevant skills and are the right cultural fit/add for the company.
Because of our strong alignment of values.
We celebrate these values in various ways, such as through rewards like Amazon vouchers and weekends away. Additionally, we focus on identifying rising stars within the business and place emphasis on leadership development.
We share key performance indicators and results, rewarding employees who achieve high levels of performance. This shared responsibility and recognition contribute to a positive and forward-looking future at our company.
Our commitment to career development and growth opportunities enables our team members to envision a successful and fulfilling career path within the company. With a focus on continuous learning, training programs, and mentorship opportunities, we provide the tools and support to help employees reach their full potential.
To illustrate: “I am proud to say that 85% of our Board and 75% of our Senior Management Team are home-grown talent we have developed from entry-level roles to leadership positions.” Michael Cook: , Director
Fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where all employees are encouraged to share their ideas, experiences, and perspectives without fear of judgement. Through open-door policies, feedback mechanisms, and regular employee surveys, we ensure that every voice is heard and valued.
SMS Environmental Ltd is an equal opportunity employer committed to equality and diversity (both of which are at the heart of the SMS Environmental’s strategy).
Investing in our team allows us to deliver better services and improve customer service and outcomes.
SMS Environmental is committed to inclusivity and diversity, with a renewal of pledges that support the company’s ambition. These pledges are reviewed regularly and used to measure success towards this goal.
SMS pledges:
To review and refine its recruitment and selection processes.
To review routes to progression within the organisation.
To enhance staff training opportunities.
At SMS Environmental, we understand the importance of work-life balance and personal growth. We offer a range of professional development opportunities, including training programs, mentorship initiatives, and career advancement pathways. Additionally, we provide support for personal goals, such as flexible work arrangements, employee assistance programs, and special accommodations to promote physical and mental well-being. We believe that when our employees thrive both personally and professionally, they bring their best selves to work every day.
As an accredited “Investors in People” organisation, all staff at SMS Environmental receive comprehensive training and support to enable them to achieve their goals and contribute to the company’s continued growth.
“SMS Environmental is honoured to be awarded an ‘Investor in People’ certification for another year. We are extremely proud of our highly talented and highly talented specialists. Their dedication to providing outstanding customer service is recognised and celebrated, and we remain committed to ensuring the best personal development of every member of the team.” David Clift, Chief People Officer
Our values are not just words on a wall – they are deeply ingrained in our company culture. Each quarter, we recognise Core Value Champions, with nominations reviewed by the board of directors against the company values.
We prioritise recruiting against our values, and one key value we emphasise is Clarity in decision-making and customer interactions. Successful candidates at SMS Environmental are chosen based on their skillset, experience and cultural fit/add.
Employees are rewarded when they are nominated and demonstrate any of our company values.
These values serve as an example to inspire, shape and influence the people, departments and more broadly the industry we work in to improve outcomes globally.
At SMS Environmental, we create a Loved Workplace through various programs and practices that prioritise employee well-being and happiness. Our offerings include:
Employee Assistance Programme: A 24-hour helpline to support staff through life’s challenges.
Work-life balance: Discouraging overtime and promoting quality family time to ensure employees do not rush through tasks.
Leadership Framework: Focusing on rising stars within the company and providing growth opportunities.
Internal Mobility: Encouraging members of the senior leadership team to explore other areas of the business (Account Managers often spending 6 months integrated with the risk assessment team).
Business Coaches: We’ve established a unique partnership with a neuroscientist and business coach, offering employees not just traditional business guidance, but also cognitive insights. These resources create a safe space for discussing both work-related and personal matters. Employees have quarterly meetings to encourage regular interactions and support. Additionally, our board approves and supports more extensive coaching sessions whenever employees need them. This comprehensive approach in coaching reflects our commitment to employee wellbeing and growth.
Advanced Approach: Prioritising employee retention and happiness over profit margins to deliver the highest quality.
These programmes and practices, combined with a comprehensive benefits package, foster a caring, supportive, and motivating workplace where employees thrive.
SMS Environmental’s CEO, Gavin Harris, drives an energy through the business that encourages creativity and innovation. Gavin drives our employees to grow, take risks and not be afraid of failure. Gavin sees problems as opportunities, and truly believes in individuals. He invests in the workforce, and is committed to ensuring that everyone is motivated.
Open to innovative ideas, he encourages everyone to share thoughts about our business performance transparently, creating an environment where individuals feel valued and motivated. His belief in the potential of each team member is reflected in the open office environment he maintains, where anyone can freely engage in discussions and share ideas. This strong commitment to our core values, combined with a focus on transparency and open communication, shapes our success and underpins our collaborative ethos.
At SMS Environmental, we pride ourselves on offering unique benefits, bonuses, and compensation packages designed to reward our employees for their hard work and dedication. Examples of what we provide include:
Above-average Base Salaries: All staff receive competitive salaries benchmarked against industry standards, ensuring fair compensation for their contributions.
Commission and Bonus Schemes: In addition to base salaries, employees can earn additional income through commission and bonus programs.
Enhanced Leave Entitlements: Employees receive an additional day off to celebrate their birthday, along with increased holiday entitlements.
Employee Assistance Programme: Free access to a 24-hour helpline for support on both work and personal issues.
SMS Advantage: Exclusive discounts and benefit schemes for employees encompassing food, groceries, holidays, fashion, and gifts, saving up to £240 on groceries, £100 on holidays, and £500 on fashion and gifts annually.
Overtime discouraged: We emphasise work-life balance and ensure time for family by not encouraging overtime and preventing employees from rushing through tasks.
Employee Sick Pay: Offering a comprehensive sick pay package to support employees during illness or other health-related issues.
Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Packages: Generous parental leave packages to provide additional support during new family additions.
Employee Pension Scheme: Our comprehensive pension plan helps employees plan a secure future.
We continually evaluate our benefits to ensure employee satisfaction and maintain our position as a market-leading water treatment company.
SMS Environmental provides water hygiene services to enable clients to meet their statutory obligations with regard to Legionella control. SMS also provides products and services that have synergy with the core business, such as other water treatment services, other water sampling, air sampling, air conditioning, ventilation hygiene, and other building services.
All SMS services are tailored to individual organisations. Our expert advisors visit clients to discuss requirements and create a service package to meet their needs.
To replace traditional methods SMS has developed Opuz, our unique compliance maintenance software application. Opuz is a market leading certified system which enables SMS and our clients manage assessments and record keeping online. Opuz ensures record keeping is managed in real time and brings peace of mind to our clients. Data is secure and at our fingertips for monitoring, analysis and reporting.
In addition to these services, SMS offers environmental control training courses, consultation services and we can even help you write your water treatment policy documents.
Harwell, Oxfordshire
Utilities
Gavin Harris
0 - 1000
https://youtu.be/PS1yCL15fA4 (The past)
https://youtu.be/MKbIY17ahkw (The present)
https://youtu.be/7a1uVvuR-1k (The future)
