Baltic Apprenticeships achieves Shine Intermediate Award for the workplace its people have helped build

Baltic Apprenticeships has been awarded the Shine Intermediate Award by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, recognising the positive working practices in place across the business.

Led by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority’s Shine accreditation looks at workplace practices across employee health, safety and wellbeing; community, Net Zero and social responsibility; employee voice and representation; and opportunity, inclusivity and development.

For Baltic, the achievement is an opportunity to recognise the people who have played an active role in shaping the workplace the business has today.

Colleague feedback has directly influenced a number of changes across Baltic. Following feedback through an employee engagement survey, the business introduced Spill, giving employees access to independent mental health support. Employees were also consulted on the introduction of Baltic’s 4.5-day working week, which now sees colleagues finish at 1pm every Friday without a reduction in pay.

A month after the new working pattern was introduced, colleagues were asked what they valued most about having their Friday afternoons back.

Kaylee Young, Senior Account Manager, said:
“Knowing that each week I can pick my child up every single Friday has made such a difference. Previously an early finish could depend on targets, which made it difficult to plan. Now I know that time is there every week.”

El Clark, Data Coach, said:
“I feel more positive throughout the week knowing our weekend is closer. I feel more alert and energised, and can spend my Friday afternoons on a long run and walking my dogs. Exercise has a massive impact on my mental health, so I’m thrilled to be able to spend more time outdoors!”

Those experiences reflect the different ways a change shaped with employee input can make a difference outside work, from creating more time with family to giving people greater space to switch off and look after their wellbeing.

They are also part of a wider approach to giving people a voice in how Baltic develops. Regular 1:1s, employee engagement surveys, working groups and polls through the Employee Community give colleagues different ways to share feedback, suggest changes and contribute ideas.

Beth Chainey, Director of People Growth & Culture at Baltic Apprenticeships, said:
“We’re really proud to achieve the Shine Intermediate Award because it recognises so many of the things our people have helped us build over time.

“A lot of the practices included in our application have been shaped directly by colleague feedback, whether that’s the introduction of our 4.5-day working week, the wellbeing support we provide or the opportunities people have to develop and progress.

“For me, that’s what makes this recognition particularly meaningful. It reflects the contribution people across Baltic make to creating the kind of workplace we want to be.”

That culture is also shaped in the everyday ways colleagues support and recognise one another. People are encouraged to go the extra mile for their teammates, and just as importantly, to acknowledge when someone else has done the same.

Through Baltic’s scratchcard scheme, colleagues can recognise each other for something they’ve done, with rewards ranging from vouchers to an early finish. Positive SBIs also give employees a way to capture the situation, behaviour and impact behind a colleague’s contribution, making recognition specific rather than simply saying “well done”.

It’s a small part of working life at Baltic, but one that helps create a culture where people feel noticed and appreciated by the people they work alongside.

Development is another area where employees are encouraged to take an active role. Through regular conversations with their managers, colleagues can discuss their ambitions, identify areas they want to develop and access opportunities including Growth Plans, Talent Academies, apprenticeships, internal vacancies and cross-functional projects.

For some employees, that means progressing into a new role. For others, it means building expertise in an area they are interested in, contributing to a project outside their usual responsibilities or helping shape an improvement across the wider business.

The team’s contribution also extends beyond Baltic itself.

Every employee has access to a paid Volunteer Day, giving colleagues time to support charities, community groups and causes that matter to them. Baltic employees also take part in fundraising and community activity throughout the year, alongside the organisation’s wider charitable support.

Brooke Hodgson, Chief Operating Officer at Baltic Apprenticeships, said:
“I’m incredibly proud that Baltic has achieved SHINE Intermediate Accreditation, particularly on our very first submission. Having been part of Baltic for many years, I’ve seen first-hand how much we’ve grown and evolved, but one thing that has always mattered is creating a business where people feel valued, supported and have genuine opportunities to develop and progress.

“For me, this recognition is about our people. It reflects the culture we’ve built together and the work that happens every day across Baltic to make it a great place to work. To have that independently recognised through SHINE is something we should all be really proud of, it also gives us an exciting platform to keep improving and aim even higher.”

Achieving the Shine Intermediate Award gives Baltic an opportunity to celebrate how its workplace has developed, while recognising that its culture will continue to evolve with the people within it.

By sharing ideas and supporting each other, colleagues across Baltic have helped build the workplace culture recognised by this award. Baltic thanks everyone in the team for their contribution and will continue to listen to their feedback as it develops further people initiatives.

Interested in being part of the culture our people have helped build? Learn more about Careers at Baltic here.