Case Study: Just IT
Happy has worked for over five years with Just IT to transform their workplace culture.
Simon Perriton, Just IT's CEO, was originally inspired by the book Relax!: A Happy Business Story and the Happy Manifesto. Since then, Happy has delivered leadership training, 1-to-1 Executive Coaching and on-going support through our conferences and events.
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Just IT is an award-winning provider of IT training and IT apprenticeships. They are dedicated to introducing new skills and talent into the UK IT sector. Since 2001, Just IT has helped over 6,000 people launch their careers in the Tech and Digital industries.
Happy has worked for over five years with Just IT to transform their workplace culture. Simon Perriton, Just IT's CEO, is a regular attendee at our conferences as well as our CEO Breakfasts. He also spoke at the 2016 Happy Workplaces Conference.
The relationship began when Simon read the book Relax!:
I love the information and the insight that I got from reading Relax!, the first book, and then the Happy Manifesto. I love the cultural energy that Henry and Cathy bring to my business and personal life. I feel like I am learning in an environment which is safe, welcoming and positive. You just have to come into the building to feel that energy — I encourage everybody to drop in and have an ice cream at Happy and get to know the people and how they bring joy at work.Simon Perriton, CEO of Just IT
(Tours of Happy's HQ in Aldgate are often given to new members of Just IT's team so they can experience it for themselves!)
The Happy Manifesto is now essential reading for all candidates at Just IT. "I spread the concept of Happy, which is a bit different and a bit innovative, through the Happy Manifesto. I've given away about 400 books to people at interviews, to give them an idea about some of the ways we're different as a business. Because I want us to be different — I don't want us to be like anybody else."
To help embed these principles, Happy has provided leadership training to Just IT staff. This has included both one-day courses and the four-day Happy Workplace Leadership Programme.
The Results
In 2016 Just IT were recognised on both the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For list and the Great Place to Work list. Simon attributes this to the focus on creating a happy workplace and the principles of the Happy Manifesto.
In addition, Simon has had 1-to-1 Executive Coaching:
I've used Cathy's coaching over the last five years. We've reflected on that just in the last session and how much progress I personally have made, having some reliable, regular coaching sessions. That one-to-one time, as the owner of a business and as a CEO, has been very useful. The results that I've personally achieved is that I have a more robust approach to business. I'm more comfortable with celebrating mistakes.Simon Perriton, Just IT
What advice does Simon have for anyone considering working with Happy?
"I think just try some of it. There’s lots of opportunities to engage in the ideas and once you get into Happy, you find lots of other people who you get good vibes from and good ideas from. It’s a good portal for inspiring and driving employee engagement, which is central to any business from a return on investment perspective.
"I’ve just shared Happy's most recent monthly newsletter with my board, so I’d encourage people to sign up for the newsletter. It just really adds energy and opportunity.
"Thinking about employee engagement is just the right thing to be doing if you want to run a successful business — and Happy can help with that in a number of ways."
Why choose Happy?
- Award-winning learner-focused approach
- Small class sizes to give personal one-to-one support
- Two years of free support after your course
- Private group options available
- No quibble money-back guarantee on all courses
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Give your leadership team the skills to create a happy and engaged workplace
We can create bespoke leadership programmes for your organisation. Whether you would like a programme over one-day or six months, your leadership team will learn the principles to create a work culture based on trust and empowerment.