When we recently became Great Place to Work Certified, I felt incredibly proud, not just because of the recognition itself, but because of what it represents to all of us at Macbeth.
What made it particularly meaningful was knowing that 96% of our employees told us that they would recommend Macbeth as a great place to work. For me, that’s the achievement that matters most. This isn’t recognition we’ve awarded ourselves; it’s based on the honest feedback of the people who experience our culture every day.
What this recognition means to us
It’s easy to see a certification as a badge to display on our website or LinkedIn page. But for us, it’s so much more than that. It’s a reflection of the everyday moments that define who we are.
Because great workplaces aren’t built for awards. They’re built through the conversations, relationships and acts of kindness that happen every single day.
It’s the manager who takes the time to check in with someone who’s having a difficult week. It’s offering support before it’s asked for. It’s leaders who genuinely listen, even when the feedback is challenging. It’s celebrating successes together, learning from mistakes without blame, and creating an environment where people feel respected, trusted and valued.
When we read through our survey comments, one message came through again and again. People described Macbeth as feeling like a family. They spoke about the strong sense of teamwork, the support they receive, the genuine camaraderie across the business, and how friendly and welcoming everyone is from day one. That feedback is incredibly special because it’s exactly the environment we strive to create.
What’s particularly rewarding is that this isn’t just reflected in our survey comments. Our average length of service is 10 years, which I believe is one of the strongest testaments to our culture. It suggests that people don’t just join Macbeth, they choose to stay, build lasting relationships, develop their careers and continue contributing to the supportive environment that makes our workplace so special.
As HR, we’re fortunate to witness many of these moments firsthand. One that always stands out to me is welcoming new employees into the business. Time and again, new starters tell us how welcomed they’ve felt from the very beginning. Our onboarding process isn’t simply about completing paperwork or learning new systems; it’s about helping people build relationships, understand our culture and feel like they belong from day one.
To me, those first few days matter. They set the tone for everything that follows, and they’re one of the earliest examples of the culture we want every employee to experience.
Culture lives in the everyday
I’ve learned that culture isn’t something you write on an office wall or list as a set of values. It’s something people experience every single day. It’s whether someone feels comfortable asking for help. Whether their ideas are listened to. Whether their hard work is recognised. Whether someone simply takes the time to ask, “How are you?” Our social events and employee initiatives absolutely have an important role to play in bringing people together, but it’s these everyday interactions that leave the biggest impression.
One survey insight that particularly stood out to me was that our employees believe our management hire people who fit in well here. To me, that isn’t about hiring people who are all the same. It’s about finding people who share our values, people who are collaborative, approachable, supportive and committed to working as one team. Those qualities are what help create the welcoming, inclusive culture our people consistently describe, while allowing everyone to bring their own perspectives, experiences and strengths.
Receiving Great Place to Work Certification is something we’re incredibly proud to celebrate because it reflects the voices of our people. Their feedback tells us what’s working well and, just as importantly, where we can continue to improve.
Creating a great place to work is never a finished project. As our business grows, expectations evolve and new challenges emerge, we’ll continue listening, learning and investing in what matters most: our people.
More than an accreditation
As someone who is passionate about HR, I believe our greatest responsibility isn’t simply managing people; it’s creating an environment where they can thrive. When people feel supported, included and empowered, everyone benefits. Our people, our clients and our business.
So yes, we’ll proudly celebrate this achievement. But more importantly, we’ll continue doing the work that earned it in the first place. Because, in the end, it isn’t the accreditation that defines us. It’s the moments that earned it.
The culture we’re proud of is shaped by the people who join us. If you’d like to be part of Team Macbeth, visit our Work With Us page to learn more.
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