Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council commissioned BMG Research to undertake a comprehensive engagement of its employees. The aim of the research was to establish a baseline from which future surveys could be tracked and success monitored, as well as allowing wider benchmarking with other similar organisations. The study itself involved pre-survey focus groups with a good spread of employees, as a means of reliably identifying the topics / themes for exploration within the wider survey. The survey itself was distributed to all 3,000 employees, via postal and online methodologies to cater for the diverse workforce and to ensure greater inclusivity.

The programme was a great success and capped off with an action planning workshop involving all senior managers within the Council, as well as a group of employees that had been recruited to be ‘champions’ throughout the research process. Tracey Ellis (Learning and Development Officer, Solihull MBC) gave this glowing reference:

“BMG Research provided professional support with the facilitation of Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council’s 2009 Employee Survey. What made the difference to the whole tone of the survey was BMG’s recommendation to undertake pre-survey focus groups and ask employee’s what was important to them. The survey was then based around key areas of importance to employees.

The Chief Executive was keen to share the results with an organisational cross section of staff so that their opinions could be heard; BMG facilitated this very successful workshop which has contributed towards engagement and motivation to not only recognise what we do well, but to have the courage to explore collaboratively where we could improve.

BMG have supported us in ensuring that the whole process ran very smoothly and professionally, thank you.”