Best HR initiative
For an HR initiative involving innovative people strategies that has created a committed, happy and effective workforce and improved financial results.
2002 WINNER
Susan Higgins of Qtab with Robert Halton of DLA
And the winner is DLA. Their highly professional submission demonstrated an over-riding quality of approach, not just in “glossiness” but in excellence of content.
PRESENTATION OF TROPHY
So what has DLA achieved? Let’s start with some numbers. Their graduate retention rate has increased from 60% to an enviable 96%. Their staff turnover has halved to 16% saving £2million a year
They have successfully made seven acquisitions in the last 8 years – and we all know how easily mistakes are made in that arena. Revenues have grown by nearly 50% in the last three years. This has been fuelled a series of initiatives. A clear vision and associated values are communicated constantly; careful analysis of why people were leaving led to them tackling the real causes with notable success; performance management is underpinned by systematic competency assessment, their approach to training graduates has won many accolades and great loyalty. DLA has a national Corporate Social Responsibility programme, where lawyers throughout the UK have given up 5,000 hours of time in community and charity work.
They have not been short of awards. The quality of their HR has been reflected in their awards in the Sunday Times League of Great Places to Work, achieving Investors in People, and their training and development received the HR Excellence award from Human Resources Magazine. In 2001, they won “Firm of the Year” for their innovative policy on diversity. There are other awards too – and their leader, Nigel Knowles, was rated “Managing Partner of the Year 2002”. there is no doubt that the approach to people that justifies this award is the product of innovative and caring leadership. A company to emulate.
RUNNER UP
Runner up is Nicholson, Graham and Jones. This was awarded for two specific initiatives. The first was a career development programme, which includes mentoring, self driven development at all levels, and personal systematised workbooks. The second was to remove the mystiques about bonus schemes and to encourage people to spend their time on important things which would build the future, in addition to fee earning.
3RD PLACE
In third place is S J Berwin for their career development programme. This was a significant, well directed and multifaceted effort to stem the loss of talent and assistant staff which has turned round a “dark” situation over the last two years.
2002 FINALISTS
Runner up
Third place
Shortlisted
2002 SPONSOR
OTHER YEARS
OTHER AWARDS