HiThrive Achieves SHINE Advanced Membership Status by Championing Workplace Excellence
We are thrilled to announce that HiThrive has been awarded the Advanced Level Membership, the highest recognition in the SHINE accreditation programme. This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to fostering an outstanding workplace that allows our employees to excel, grow, and feel deeply valued.
The SHINE programme, an initiative supporting organisational excellence across the North East, is built upon four membership levels – Subscriber, Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced – and is guided by five beams of good practice. Reaching Advanced Level, the highest accreditation in SHINE, is a true mark of distinction. It acknowledges our deep alignment with SHINE’s ethos of promoting exceptional work practices and setting the standard for workplace excellence. In this post, we’ll share how we’ve embraced SHINE’s values to enhance our workplace and what this achievement means for HiThrive.
What is SHINE and Why Does it Matter?
SHINE is more than just an accreditation; it’s a movement that empowers businesses to implement sustainable, people-focused practices. By following the programme’s framework, organisations can create thriving workplaces where employees feel supported, respected, and empowered. The programme is structured around five beams of good practice, which act as a blueprint for fostering long-term success and employee well-being. These beams are:
Valuing the Workforce
Promoting Health and Well-being
Effective Communication
Building a Balanced Workforce
Demonstrating Social Responsibility
By achieving Advanced status in SHINE, HiThrive has demonstrated exemplary performance across all five beams. Here’s how we aligned with these principles and went above and beyond to create a workplace where everyone has the tools and support they need to succeed.
Living SHINE's Five Beams of Good Practice
1. Valuing the Workforce
At HiThrive, we prioritise the well-being, growth, and satisfaction of our team. This begins with recognising and rewarding their contributions. Over the past two years, we’ve introduced enhanced measures to ensure our workforce feels valued. These include performance-based rewards, transparent progression pathways, and annual recognition events where we celebrate the exceptional efforts of our people.
The feedback from our employees demonstrates how impactful these initiatives have been. Many have shared that they feel more appreciated and motivated knowing their hard work is noticed and rewarded.
2. Promoting Health and Well-being
Employee well-being has always been close to our heart, and our commitment remains steadfast—especially during challenging times. With the many financial and mental health pressures facing the world, we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure our team feels secure and supported.
We’ve introduced mental health support initiatives, such as regular wellness workshops and free access to confidential counselling services. Additionally, we offer financial well-being support, from cashback programmes for medical expenses to workshops focusing on financial literacy.
Creating an environment that truly supports the health and happiness of our team is one of the cornerstones of our success, and it’s a commitment we’ll continue to prioritise.
3. Effective Communication
An organisation cannot thrive without clear and open communication. At HiThrive, we’ve cultivated a transparent culture where everyone’s voice matters. We host regular feedback sessions where employees can share their ideas and concerns, and management actively works to implement their suggestions.
We also rolled out new communication channels like an internal app that keeps everyone informed and connected, ensuring all employees—from frontline to management—feel part of HiThrive’s story.
4. Building a Balanced Workforce
A balanced workforce is a vital contributor to business success, and inclusivity is at the core of everything we do. Diversity in hiring and ensuring equal opportunities for all employees have shaped our organisation into a dynamic and innovative workplace.
HiThrive’s commitment to creating balance resonates not only within our organisation but in our contributions to the broader community as well.
5. Demonstrating Social Responsibility
Giving back to our community is a core aspect of our identity. It’s not just about being part of the North East; it’s about actively helping the region grow and prosper. We’ve collaborated with local charities, supported employment opportunities for the underserved, and invested in eco-friendly initiatives to minimise our environmental impact.
One project that’s particularly dear to us is our partnership with a local school, where we mentor young people, equipping them with skills to thrive in today’s competitive workplace. Being socially responsible isn’t just a corporate obligation for us—it’s a part of who we are.
Achieving Advanced Status and Beyond
Earning the Advanced Membership from SHINE is a defining moment in HiThrive’s history. It’s more than an accolade; it symbolises the dedication, hard work, and shared vision of every member of our team. This recognition acknowledges our ongoing efforts to create a company culture built on trust, inclusivity, and opportunity.
But why stop here? We’re eager to continue evolving and exploring new ways to live by the SHINE principles. We aim to lead by example, inspiring other North East businesses to follow suit and join the SHINE programme. Together, we can make our region a beacon of workplace excellence.
Join the Journey
If you’re a North East SME looking to transform your workplace for the better, we’d love to hear from you. The SHINE programme shows that improving your work environment isn’t just a moral obligation—it’s a meaningful way to foster growth, resilience, and success in your organisation.
At HiThrive, we’re proof that implementing people-focused practices doesn’t just benefit employees—it elevates businesses and communities alike.
Here’s to building a brighter workplace, together.
