Dixons Contractors

Context:

Dixons Contractors was founded in Northern Ireland in 1979 as a small family-owned business. Initial projects were within the competitive social housing sector and this grew to progressively larger projects across a wide range of markets including commercial, healthcare, education and leisure. The company has grown to become a leading construction company with a reputation for delivering high quality projects across the commercial, public and private sectors in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

The company’s success is built on the core values of integrity, quality, service, partnership and professionalism. Committed to the highest standards of professionalism and continuous improvement, the company has successfully achieved ISO 9001, OHSAS 18001 and ISO 14001 accreditation as well as being the first construction company in Ireland to achieve BS 25999 (ISO 22301) business continuity certification.

Journey:

In a sector renowned for high staff turnover, Dixons has performed exceptionally well with staff turnover levels significantly below the sector average. The leadership team at Dixons wanted to build on the the company’s good practices and to position Dixons for strategic growth and development by focusing on how to improve employee relations, productivity and performance and opening up new markets, both within Northern Ireland and the wider UK.

Dixons Contractors engaged Next Level Impact to conduct an initial strategic-level review of the business against the Valuing People Standard (BS76000) which led to a range of support interventions including:

• Review of current policies and procedures
• Identification of opportunities for improvement
• Management team training
• Support with culture change initiatives
• Executive coaching
• Alignment of the company’s approaches to the Valuing People Standard (BS76000)
• Support for formal accreditation to the Valuing People Standard (BS76000)

Outcome:

Dixons successfully implemented a transformational change programme that lead to improved employee relations, productivity and performance and opening up new markets, including public sector work, both within Northern Ireland and the wider UK.

Additional benefits included:

• Culture change
• A more motivated workforce
• Greater levels of engagement at all levels
• Increased employee satisfaction and retention
• Improved operational efficiencies
• New markets and increased customer base
• Improved access to public sector work
• Formal accreditation to the Valuing People Standard (BS76000)
• Enhanced company and brand reputation