A4e is all about ‘Improving Peoples Lives’ through designing and delivering frontline public services. Additional response to 4.1 A4e has always had a strong organisational culture, founded on the values of its leader. Recently these values have been formally articulated as A4e’s ‘DNA’ – the code by which we work and operate - rather than a formal set of values. The A4e DNA is our way of describing the behaviour and the people that typify our organisation and how we conduct ourselves.
A4e encourages team work and a sense of enjoyment in what they do. The work enviroment has been created to be comfortable, inviting and homely for both their employees and customers and personalisation of work spaces is encouraged.
Improving People’s Lives (IPL) Awards is an annual event where line managers and employees are encouraged to nominate colleagues who have demonstrated passion, innovation or extraordinary commitment to improving people’s lives. A Panel of senior managers review submissions and draw-up a shortlist. Shortlisted nominees then submit a final video presentation and these are judged by Emma Harrison, the Leader, who selects an overall IPL winner. All shortlisted nominees are invited to an awards dinner at a prestigious venue.
At A4e, Managers have the opportunity to gain the Level 3 and Level 5 Chartered Management Institute (CMI) qualifications, equivalent to an A Level and a Foundation degree. They supply this programme in house in partnership with the CMI as A4e is an accredited delivery organization for the CMI. They currently have 32 Managers completing this programme and have plans to launch a further 90 Level 3 places and 30 Level 5 places in the New Year 2010.