The knowledge: find out what you stand for

The knowledge - find out what you stand for

Discerning a set of organisational values can be a helpful way of building a sense of identity and staff cohesion. Just Recruitment Founder and Managing Director Jenny Wrightson shares tips on how to do it.

Values can’t be imposed on a workforce. They have to grow organically from what people perceive to be the character of the organisation. If you’re developing a values statement, it pays to be as consultative as possible.

It’s great to let your customers know what you stand for. But you need to deliver against that vision.  

Every organisation needs something to live up to. While values tend to emerge from what people think about their corporate identity, they function best if they have an aspirational element. They should set standards of behaviour that help people aim high. That’s the way to build a positive workplace culture.

Empty words don’t compel action. A clever PR consultant can develop a values statement in five minutes. But it won’t resonate with the workforce unless it rings true. Better to have a set of values that are messy, and don’t permit easy expression, than a set that your people don’t believe in.

People need space to understand who they are. If you’re serious about developing a set of organisational values, give your people the time they need to do it properly. Take them out of the office to think. Give them a change of scenery. Buy some decent coffee and cakes. Set up the right conditions at the start of the enterprise, and you’ll be far more likely to reap the rewards.

The knowledge - find out what you stand forValues help motivate your team by giving them a shared sense of purpose. If you know what you’re working towards, and what your employer stands for, you’re far more likely to give your best. That’s why values play such an important role in staff motivation.

Reminders are helpful, but don’t go overboard. Once you have your values distilled into some kind of statement, it’s worth sharing it throughout the organisation. Post it in the staff room or give people laminated cards to stick up near their desks. When they need a reminder of what they’re working for, they’ll have it readily to hand.

Don’t become complacent. A values exercise isn’t something to be done once then forgotten. You should revisit your values regularly, at least every three years. Be honest if you don’t think they’re accurate. Let your staff refine them. Every business changes. So why should your values stay fixed in time?

Build your customer offer around your values. It’s great to let your customers know what you stand for. But you need to deliver against that vision. With your values in place, you need to embody them throughout your organisation.

An objective eye can make all the difference. Sometimes it is hard to see the wood for the trees. By bringing in an external consultant or adviser, you’ll get a fresh perspective on your business. That will help you refine your self-understanding – though you need to be prepared to hear some hard truths if the process is to be truly worthwhile. 

Nobody’s perfect. So why should your business be any different? Don’t plan to fail. But do be realistic about what you can achieve. You may fall short of the ideals you set out in your values statement. But that only makes it all the more important to have one. Then at least you have a way of measuring performance.

Don’t forget the bottom line. Values are one of the means by which you optimise business performance. Don’t let them become a distraction. They’re a business tool: a way of saying “this is who we are” and “this is what we want to achieve”. 

 

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
Keeping pace with a fast-moving industry
Ten ways for an employer to engage their employees

 

Published: 10 February 2025
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2025

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Stock Administrator
Sector: Production and Stock Control
Salary: Competitive
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913657
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a growing business on the outskirts of Colchester—an industry leader in its sector—to recruit a Stock Administrator for a 12-month fixed-term contract covering maternity leave.

Please note: this is a part-time role—25/30 hours per week and is fully office-based.

The key purpose of this role is to manage the stock administration throughout the business, from start to finish.

Key duties include:

  • Stock management
  • Overseeing the regular stock counts and reconciling differences
  • Processing stock adjustments in the system
  • Processing of stock transfers between sites
  • Monitoring levels of stock, raising quotes, and placing orders as required
  • Assisting with the year-end stock count
  • Ad-hoc queries
  • Reviewing of invoices—ensuring profitability of all jobs and flagging jobs that fall outside of expected profit ranges
  • General administration related to raising credit notes, creating new stock codes and moving costs between jobs
  • Reconciling and transferring time between two internal systems
  • Running monthly reports
  • Building good working relationships with the Warehouse Manager and all business teams

Key role requirements include:

  • Well organised with the ability to multitask
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to problem solve, working through queries in a logical manner
  • Able to communicate clearly and concisely
  • Aware of at least basic Excel functions, such as pivot tables and lookups
  • Excellent verbal and written skills
  • Confident and positive attitude

This role offers a competitive pay rate and excellent company benefits as well as a good working environment. This is an excellent opportunity to join a forward-thinking organisation on a 12-month fixed-term contract basis.

Free parking is available on site.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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Transport Planner
Sector: Transport, Logistics and Shipping
Salary: £28,000 - £32,000 per annum
Location: Earls Colne
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913656
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a transport and logistics business based on the outskirts of Colchester to recruit a Transport Planner for their existing team.

You will need to come from a planning background within the general haulage or pallet network industries, and have previous experience managing a fleet of Rigid/Artic vehicles.

Duties include:

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  • Use in-house planning tools and systems to manage workload and monitor efficiency.
  • Ensuring internal tracking systems are kept organised and updated.
  • Controlling and planning resources (vehicles, drivers, trailers); ensuring all legal requirements are adhered to (Working Time Directive and EU Drivers’ Hours regulations).
  • Plan Rigid and Artic work for the following day.
  • Warehouse checks.
  • CPC Holder is an advantage, but not essential.

Please note: Due to the company’s location, you will need to drive.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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Fitters Mate/Labourer
Sector: Property and Construction
Salary: Competitive
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913655
About the role

Just Recruitment seeks a Colchester-based Fitter/Labourer for a nationwide manufacturing-based construction company known for high-quality solutions and excellent customer service. With extensive industry experience, they prioritise delivering top-quality products to clients.

This role involves travelling to sites to support the Team Leaders and will involve a lot of heavy work such as digging, lifting and manual labour.

Role requirements:

  • Willing to work long hours
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  • CSCS card would be preferable
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Benefits include:

  • Competitive salary, basic salary plus overtime
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  • Opportunity to be put through training courses

This is an excellent opportunity to join a vibrant company on a full-time, permanent basis.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

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Account Executive (Marketing)
Sector: Marketing, Advertising and PR
Salary: Competitive
Location: Colchester
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913654
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a well-regarded organisation, based on the outskirts of Colchester, looking to add an Account Executive (Marketing) to their existing team.

As a Marketing Account Executive, you will be an integral part of the creative team. In this position, you will work alongside Account Managers and Account Directors to deliver marketing campaigns and collateral in collaboration with the client, studio teams and client services departments.

You will be confident to talk to clients and internal teams on a day-to-day basis, building strong relationships and ensuring projects are progressed and delivered in time.

You must be supremely organised, have excellent communication skills and a keen eye for detail.

Training will be provided for the specifics of the role.

Key duties include:

  • Working alongside the Account Managers, coordinate the delivery of marketing campaigns in collaboration with the client, studio teams and client services departments.
  • Work closely with the media planning and buying team to track media schedules and flag up coming bookings.
  • Ensure campaign assets are created on brand, to the required specification, with the right message for the right purpose and to deadline. For example, this could include press advertising, direct mail and digital advertising.
  • Create templated emailer campaigns through platforms such as Spotler, Beepro and MailChimp.
  • Update website content and imagery using WordPress.
  • Basic understanding of SEO in terms of the importance of how relevant content affects the growth and success of organic search traffic. This will include working with an Account Manager to implement content improvement recommendations, based on SEO reports provided by our in-house experts.
  • Project support as required, this may include typing documents, briefing client amendments, proofreading, research, image sourcing and promotional item sourcing.
  • Broad understanding of key media channels.
  • Proofreading and attention to detail are a must.

Required essential skills and attributes include:

  • Well organised with the ability to multitask.
  • Excellent verbal and written skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
  • Deadline driven.
  • Able to cope under pressure and work under tight deadlines.
  • Able to communicate clearly and concisely.
  • Able to develop relationships with colleagues and clients.
  • Comfortable with working as part of a team.
  • Can work independently and use initiative.
  • Willing to learn new skills.
  • Confident and positive attitude.

Health, wellbeing and benefits include:

  • 20 days holiday, plus B/H..
  • Company pension.
  • Health Cash Plan, cash back on dental, optical, and other health care costs such as physiotherapy, osteopathy, reflexology, and acupuncture.
  • Life assurance.
  • Electric car purchase scheme, via salary sacrifice.
  • Cycle to work scheme.
  • Outstanding training and progression, including access to LinkedIn Learning and Group Learning Management System.
  • Share purchase scheme.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a vibrant team, offering further development and progression, as well as a great package and free parking.

Please note: This role is office-based based Monday to Friday.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more