Miller Construction has recently invested in excess of £300k in a specialised course for its entire staff which aims to strengthen the business. “The Miller Experience”, designed to have employees think about and agree more about the leading construction company’s core values, has been undertaken by 100 per cent of the 460-strong workforce.

The tailored programme has been introduced to staff across a range of all disciplines and in future will be offered to every new employee as part of a newly designed induction programme. “The Miller Experience’’ ensures that all employees have a clear agreement and understanding of Miller Construction’s corporate vision, values and beliefs, and most importantly, how to utilise their skills in order to meet the organisation’s strategic plans.

Robin Mackie, Chief Executive of Miller Construction, said: “This investment is worth its weight in gold. Our people are the true asset of Miller Construction - we have an extensive client base, so it is essential that every member of staff understands our vision and how to achieve the high standards that are expected of us.

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“It is important that our staff have a genuine commitment to our values and this inspirational approach has proved both popular and effective. The company is achieving excellent results and in recent months has seen its order intake swell beyond the £400m mark for the first time.”

These workshops were devised by Eve Sharpe Williams of Sharpe Minds, who takes staff through courses ranging from two to four days long. There is a strong focus on Miller’s aims throughout, but Eve likes to begin by encouraging staff to focus on themselves first.

She explains: “Looking at yourself is important because it allows you to utilise your strengths, identify your limitations, and ultimately to work more effectively with clients.”

For this reason, the starter sessions can involve anything from personality profiling to exploring ways to release creativity. Next, staff focus on the company vision, and are asked to consider the ways in which this relates to their specific role in the company.

As the workshop progresses the focus shifts to communication skills – participants analyse their interpersonal skills, body language and word choice, and how they are perceived by others. In the final stage, staff evaluate and identify key issues to be addressed back in their workplace.

Eve concluded: “With Miller Construction’s core values at the heart of The Experience it is an extremely effective way to engage the employees and encourage them to unlock their potential and strive for excellence.”

(CD)