At Consensus, we’ve always believed work should be fun. But last year’s Great Place to Work survey told us only 63% of colleagues agreed they have fun at work – so we knew we needed to do better. Fast forward a year, and we’ve already seen a big change, with 73% of colleagues agreeing in our 2024 survey that Consensus is a fun place to work.
Here are some of the ways we’ve put fun at the heart of what we do this past year:
Ugly Jumper Day
One of our favourite moments of the last 12 months was Ugly Jumper Day. This started with Debbie, one of the people we support, who loves having fun and raising money for good causes. Her support worker, Lisa, thought this would be something the whole company could get involved in – and she was right! We promoted it through our internal channels, website, and social media, and soon enough, we had 40 colleagues and the people we support wearing their ugliest (or most festive) jumpers – one colleague even took her elf jumper to the beach in Benidorm! Debbie raised £300 for MIND, and we all had a blast. It was a great reminder of how much fun we can have when we come together for a good cause. We can’t wait to see what fun and creative ideas Debbie comes up with for this year’s fundraiser.
Everyday Fun
For us, fun isn’t just about big events – it’s about making every day enjoyable. Take Perrywood for example. Service Manager Gary has created a culture where fun and creativity are a priority. His team knows they have the freedom to come up with ideas that bring joy to their day-to-day work – and Deputy Jodie ensures everyone makes the absolute most of it.
One day, Gary walked in to find everyone celebrating National Pyjama Day – with the team dressed in their slippers, dressing gowns, and onesies! Another time, they toasted National Prosecco Day with a few bubbles. By encouraging his team to find joy in the little things, Gary has enabled them to create a positive, and fun environment where everyone feels included and happy to come to work.
Leading by Example
Fun starts with our leaders. From our CEO and MDs playing Lady Sugar and her esteemed advisors in an ‘Apprentice’ activity to our Quality Director Amanda dressing up in an inflatable suit as Q the Quality Mascot, our leadership team is always up for a laugh. They’ve even participated in a
sports day in Wales, where they gave the three-legged race their best shot! (Ok, ok – they won. But let’s not remind them of that.) By joining in and encouraging others to do the same, they show that it’s not only okay – but beneficial – to make room for fun.
Bringing Play to the Workplace
This year we’ve also embraced the FISH! Philosophy and here focus on the principle of “Play.” We encourage our teams to find ways to make their work fun and engaging, whether it’s by singing while doing paperwork or holding themed meetings in inflatable costumes. It’s about bringing a bit of joy to everyday tasks and creating a more enjoyable work environment for everyone.
At Consensus, the fun moments really matter, and we’ve loved watching everyone add a little sprinkle joy to their working day this year. And it’s making a difference. After all, when we enjoy what we do, it shows in everything we do – and makes us even better placed to bring laughter, joy and fun to the people we support.
