First Engineering Services is redesigning its appraisal and performance management systems after attending a Growth Hub workshop.

Nathalie Cottam, Administration and HR Manager, said: “The workshop made us realise that the way we were going about appraisals was outdated.

Communication cuts both ways. We’re looking to grow people and make employees feel valued.

“We’re creating a genuinely two-way process to get employees’ input. We weren’t necessarily listening to people before. Communication cuts both ways. We’re looking to grow people and make employees feel valued.”

First employs 54 staff at Dalston, near Carlisle, and its customers include large manufacturers such as 2 Sisters, McVitie’s, Nestlé and Pirelli.

It’s vitally important for the business to maximise productivity and ensure that each employee contributes to the best of their ability.

Three managers attended the workshop including Tom Morgan who has since been promoted to works manager.

The learning was interactive with role-playing – never dull.

Nathalie added: “We have quite a young management team and we wanted to know if we were following good practice around appraisals and if there was anything we could bring in to improve what we do.

“The learning was interactive with role-playing – never dull. And it was interesting to listen to other businesses there to find out how they do things. We found the workshop very useful.”