Wake Smith celebrates its 21st anniversary of holding the Investors in People (IIP) accreditation this year and is proud to reflect on how many staff have been part of this journey from the very start.
Several staff are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year and will receive long service awards to recognise their achievements.
Notably, long servers alone, at Wake Smith have clocked up a staggering 734 years between them.
The Sheffield law firm currently has 35 staff with more than 15 years’ service and marks milestone years of 15, 25 and 40 years.
Office manager John Liversidge and completions assistant Karen Hayes both celebrate their milestone 40th year at Wake Smith in 2019 along with family department secretary Leanne Fearn and legal assistant Kathryn Taylor who notch up 15 years at the company.
Other staff celebrating long service in 2019 include litigation lawyer Stephen Thompson who is in his 44th year at the company, commercial property solicitor Damien Donnelly and HR assistant Kath Mitchell who are both on 35 years, commercial property secretary Tracey Eggenton on 34 years and IT manager Glenn Simpson on 30 years.
While chief cashier Richard Hayes clocks up 27 years, residential conveyancing director Amanda Cowley hits 23 years; debt recovery manager Louisa Kearns and private client secretary Hazel Calvert are on 22 years, commercial property conveyancer Helen Paul marks 21 years and debt recovery assistant Jane Marsden is on 20 years.
Thirteen other staff across the business are also heading towards spending two decades with the company.
In total the long servers have worked more than 734 years for Wake Smith which in 2019 celebrates 21 years of retaining the coveted IIP (Investors In People) Standard based on its staff management, quality of workplace and career progression systems.
Nick Lambert, chairman at Wake Smith said: “Our investment in staff is rewarded by the high retention rates we have here. Our loyal employees are the backbone of the business and we pride ourselves on providing the best possible environment for them.
“Their dedication and collective efforts play a significant role in achieving Wake Smith’s targets, growth and development of the company and in taking the business to where it is today.
“We recognise the wide spectrum of capabilities and skill sets of our staff and will continue to encourage them to sharpen and broaden their skill sets, through various training and development programmes, reinforced by accreditations like IIP which we have held for an impressive 21 years.”
Office manager John Liversidge, who celebrates 40 years at the company this year after joining as a spritely 16-year-old two days after leaving school in May 1979, said: “The key is understanding other people’s needs, and doing the job with a smile on your face.
“There is a real family feel here. The directors are available to discuss anything professional or personal and you are allowed to grow within your job role. I started as an office junior and have been given more and more responsibility as the years have passed.
“It’s all about the people, that makes Wake Smith. We have a varied range of people here which makes a really good blend. I still really enjoy it. I’ve met plenty of interesting people, been to some great nights out and really enjoyed my work. I know it’s unusual to stay at a company for this long nowadays.”
The IIP Standard assesses an organisation under three performance headings: leading, supporting and improving and is based around the latest workplace trends, essential skills and effective management.
Wake Smith first gained accreditation to the IIP Standard in 1998 after focusing on career progression and support for its employees and proving to assessors it provides a beneficial work environment, delivering excellent management and development of its staff.
