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Diabetes UK Reward & Recognition

Business Overview

Diabetes UK is the leading charity for people affected by diabetes. From care and support to prevention, campaigning, fundraising and research, it works to tackle the fastest-growing health threat in the UK. (There are currently 4.6 million people in the UK living with diabetes.)

As the UK’s leading diabetes charity, employing around 400 members of staff, its mission is to support those living with diabetes, prevent Type 2 diabetes, make research breakthroughs and ultimately find a cure. The charity’s success in these areas relies on inspiring a range of different groups – people with diabetes, volunteers, healthcare professionals, donors, commercial partners and the staff of Diabetes UK – to help meet these challenges. The expertise and motivation of staff are crucial in helping Diabetes UK work towards its many aims and objectives.

number of employees
434
Industry
Health + Charity
Locations
UK
The Challenge 

Charities such as Diabetes UK often face unique challenges when it comes to engaging and motivating their staff. Its workforce constitutes a broad range of roles, demographics and skillsets, united by their passion and support for the charity but all with different motivations and experiences. This has a direct impact on the development of reward and recognition strategies. At the same time, as with any charity, funding is heavily reliant on donations and, as a result, finances including money spent on staff are heavily scrutinised. 

Diabetes UK approached Xexec with a view to developing and implementing a cost-effective employee engagement strategy that would address these challenges. Notably the charity wanted a scheme that would not just celebrate hard work, but support the culture and values that are so crucial to its ongoing success.  

The Solution 

Xexec developed and launched a bespoke reward and recognition programme for Diabetes UK to help the charity recognise and celebrate outstanding work. The emphasis of the scheme was on meaningful gestures rather than large financial rewards. The programme was directly linked to Diabetes UK’s core values to encourage specific behaviours and support its workplace culture.

Xexec incorporated Diabetes UK’s pre-agreed approval process into a fully automated and seamless nomination programme. Nominators have to select one of the organisation’s core attributes that their colleagues have displayed (such as “We put people first”, “We’re driven to know more”, “We keep things simple”, or “We make change happen”) and write a personal message. Nominees then receive an instant £25 thank you award added to their reward balance as well as appearing on a “Winners’ Wall”. The reward credit can be spent on a selection of e-vouchers and experiences, or even donated to Diabetes UK.

The Outcome 
Since launch, the platform has enabled staff members to recognise and reward each other’s contributions easily and there has been a total of 495 awards put through the system.
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