Why work at WCHG

Awarded ‘Investors in People’ Health & Wellbeing and officially recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer UK, three years running since 2019, WCHG is now amongst an elite group of world class organisations recognised for demonstrating a commitment to high performance through excellent people management and provides local employment to 530 colleagues.

We’re looking for outstanding and committed people who would love the opportunity to develop their careers in a challenging and exciting environment whilst also making a real difference to the community in Wythenshawe.

In return for working WCHG we offer...

Flexible Working

At WCHG we understand that each one of us has to balance our workload with our personal responsibilities. We know that best performance can be achieved by helping colleagues manage time pressures effectively. Dependent on the type of job, there are a range of working patterns available from flexible working; compressed working; annualised hours arrangements; and seasonal summer/winter working hours.

Leave entitlement

Your entitlement to annual leave will increase from 25 to 30 days over your first five years with WCHG. For colleagues who join WCHG on a placement, your entitlement to annual leave may differ and you should refer to the terms of your contract of employment. Public holidays are in addition to annual leave.

Family friendly policies are in place which provide eligible employees with enhanced leave entitlements in cases of adoption, maternity, paternity and shared parental leave.  In exceptional circumstances where colleagues need to address external commitments which have a bearing on their welfare and ability to perform their duties, then special leave may be granted.

Pension scheme

The Group operates a workplace pension scheme; the chosen provider may be subject to change. Currently the Group is pleased to offer an approved NEST pension scheme, with enhanced employer contribution rates. Employees can chose from a range of contribution rates; with WCHG offering generous employer contributions.

Life Assurance

WCHG provides Life Assurance for all eligible colleagues calculated at three times of annual salary.

Real Living Wage

WCHG are proud to be a Real Living Wage employer and are committed to paying at the RLW as a minimum entry rate. Further information can be found at www.livingwage.org.uk             

Health and Wellbeing 

The Group is committed to the health and wellbeing of all colleagues and initiatives are run annually to promote wellbeing. For example, colleagues can take advantage of a free and confidential health check offering health and lifestyle advice. WCHG offers a healthy living benefit of up to £15 per month to support gym membership, sports club membership or even weight management groups.

Alternatively colleagues may access the Leisure Learning benefit of up to £15 per month, towards activities such as driving lessons, creative writing courses or any other personal development activity. We recognize that it can sometimes be challenging for colleagues who are balancing busy lives. Our group of trained BeeWell champions are located across all WCHG sites and can provide a listening ear and signpost colleagues in situations where there may be a need to access to additional support.

Westfield Health

The Group is committed to supporting colleagues throughout their working lives. All WCHG eligible colleagues will be entered into the Employee Assistance Scheme (EASE) provided by Westfield Health. This is a confidential 24 hour telephone helpline providing advice on legal, health and wellbeing information, plus access to a counselling service.

Colleagues also can choose to upgrade their Westfield Health membership to include access to a cash back plan: the Level 3 Foresight Health Cash Plan.  This enables colleagues to claim cash back on the cost of dental, optical and therapy treatment costs which can take away the burden of expensive health care bills. In addition, colleagues who opt to join the Westfield Foresight plan are then eligible to take advantage of Westfield Rewards which provides to access high street discounts.

Cars and Cycle to Work scheme

The Group operates salary sacrifice schemes which allow you to get a brand new car or bicycle by sacrificing part of your salary.  Subject to eligibility, salary sacrifice schemes allow you give up part of your salary before National Insurance is calculated, in return for a noncash benefit. This effectively means you save money – and then you get the product or benefit at a discounted rate.

The salary sacrifice schemes currently available include:

• Cycle to work scheme
• Car lease scheme

Professional Memberships

The Group recognises the importance of professional memberships both to you as a professional and also to the Group. We are pleased to fund one membership fee of a professional association each year.

Recognition and Reward

Our WOW scheme recognises and rewards people who make exceptional contributions to the success of the Group and the wellbeing of tenants, residents and colleagues.

Employees can be nominated in one of the following five categories:

• WOW Customers – Demonstrating excellent customer service.
• WOW Colleague – Consistently supporting their fellow employees.
• WOW For All – Ensuring a fantastic service for all (demonstrating equality and diversity).
• WOW Suggestions – An excellent staff suggestion.
• WOW Green – Demonstrating an active commitment to reducing the Group’s carbon footprint.

Subsidised social events

The Group takes every opportunity to celebrate with staff, holding two subsidized social events throughout the year. Our annual Christmas conference is an opportunity to reflect on business achievements and set the scene for the year ahead; and is the perfect opportunity to recognize and reward great performance amongst colleagues and teams. Our staff consultative group (Your Voice) takes the lead on organizing the Group’s summer social event ; and colleagues are encouraged to lead on other activities throughout the year, for example our hugely popular Walk and Talk events.

Training and Development

We are proud to be accredited with Investors in People Platinum. We offer a wide range of training and development opportunities to enable you to become the best you can be and support you in your role; or assist you in achieving where you aspire to be. Our Supported Learning Policy gives colleagues the opportunity to access funding, enabling you to undertake a training or development activity which will benefit both you and the Group. The Group is committed to developing management skills through the Institute of Leadership and Management programme (ILM) offered at both the Award and Certificate level.

Job related training is always available along with ICT training and Health and Safety programmes. The Group operates a formalized job shadowing scheme called “Getting to Know You” which gives colleagues the chance to find out about different parts of the business, both to develop greater understanding and grow their knowledge.

Volunteering within the local community

WCHG is fully committed to the engagement of colleagues in voluntary activities that support the Group’s purpose.

Colleagues can apply for up to 14 paid hours per year spent delivering community volunteering based activities in Wythenshawe.  Watch the video below to see some of the volunteering activities undertaken across the Group: