Over the next 2 weeks our senior managers will be criss-crossing the country… hand-delivering Christmas gifts to every one of our guards

“Keeping good people isn’t about pay…It’s about making them feel valued.”

Esme’s not happy with me. Not in the slightest.  After cutting her leg last week, she now finds herself in what can only be described as ‘lead prison’. No more chasing squirrels or running around like a mad thing – not for now at least. I’m hoping the festivities will lift her spirits. The Christmas tree is up, standing proudly in its designated spot. If you’ve been keeping up with my articles, you’ll know I’m quite particular about my tree. So yes, I can confirm; it’s perfectly shaped, its needles are impeccably even and it smells divine. However, the decorations will have to wait a little longer. My goddaughter is coming to visit in a few days and decorating the tree together is our thing. But that’s not the only tradition keeping the holiday spirit alive…

Scott’s annual curry night is one for the ages. Every year, he and his mates don their gaudiest Christmas jumpers and descend upon the local curry house. They’ve been at it for fifteen years now. I just feel sorry for any newcomers to the group. They told one poor guy it was fancy dress… He turned up in a giant inflatable turkey outfit! Presumably he felt like a right turkey by the end of the night! Of course, we’ve got our own festive rituals at Advantage One too (sadly none of which involve inflatable fancy dress
costumes!)…  We’re currently in the thick of finalising the team’s Christmas gift boxes. In fact, I’m writing this article surrounded by stacks of goodies whilst knee-deep in wrapping paper.

Over the next couple of weeks, the senior managers and I will be criss-crossing the country to deliver each gift personally. Each guard – from Greenwich to Glasgow and everywhere in between – will be handed their gift and given a well-deserved pat on the back for their hard work over the past year. (They might even get to see Scott in a Santa suit if they’re lucky!) I believe a “thank you” in person goes a long way – even if that means battling the holiday traffic and driving to the most remote corner of the UK. Besides, at least this way there’s no risk of ‘porch pirates’…
The issue hit the news again last week, with consumers being warned to be extra vigilant ahead of Black Friday.

I read that 21% of all parcel thefts take place in November and December as gangs target empty homes with parcels sitting outside. The cost of so-called porch piracy apparently hit £376.6Million over the past year. Ouch! Suddenly driving halfway across the country to hand-deliver Christmas gifts to our guards seems like a wise move! However, the porch piracy story wasn’t the only news to catch my eye recently… Last week Labour launched its Get Britain Working white paper in response to the glaring hole in the jobs market. Experts say the number of economically inactive people –those not working or looking for work – surged during Covid to over nine million and has stayed at that level ever since.

Sir Keir Starmer may have a point about the crisis, but at Advantage One we’re doing our bit to address it. We actively work with job centres and support ex-service personnel, guaranteeing interviews to anyone who applies. Of course, candidates still need to meet our exacting standards, but we’re proud of the opportunities we provide. Unlike some companies, all of our guards also receive the higher national living wage – even if they’re under 21 years old. But I’ll be honest; keeping good people isn’t just about pay. It’s about making them feel valued. And that’s what our Christmas gifts, handwritten cards and personal deliveries are all about.

Maybe I should give Sir Keir a call… I’ve got a few tips on how to fix the UK’s employment crisis!