We are pleased to announce that on 23rd September, Orwell was awarded Bronze status as part of the Caring Company Award Programme.
This initiative, launched by Suffolk Family Carers in partnership with Suffolk County Council, recognises organisations across Suffolk that actively support employees with caring responsibilities. The programme offers Bronze, Silver and Gold accreditation levels, aiming to help employers retain the valuable skills and experience of carers, reducing staff turnover and the associated costs of recruitment and training.
To achieve Bronze status, Orwell completed online training sessions with both Leaders and colleagues and engaged with a dedicated newsletter containing resources and signposting to support services.
Research shows that 41% of unpaid carers leave their jobs to fulfil their caring responsibilities. Suffolk Family Carers emphasise that many individuals are unaware of their rights and the support available to help them remain in employment.
At Orwell, we are proud to support carers within our workforce. We currently have two Care Ambassadors, offer flexible working policies and carers leave, and provide access to an extensive Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) programme as well as an employee assistance programme. We are committed to building on this achievement and look forward to working towards Silver status in the near future.
On obtaining the accreditation Michelle Harrison, Director of People and Culture shared: “We are so pleased to have achieved our Bronze Caring Company award through continuing to raise awareness regarding those with caring responsibilities in the workplace. Within Orwell we know that at least 26% of us having caring responsibilities alongside our roles and we are fully committed to supporting anyone with these responsibilities to ensure we retain their valuable skills and experience”.
Discover how we support our team and what makes working at Orwell a rewarding experience.
