Our people

A successful business built upon engaged, capable people

At Synthomer, we realise that selecting and nurturing successful employees is the key to developing a successful business. We are continually working hard to improve Synthomer’s people agenda, implementing a consistent grading structure, an exciting graduate recruitment programme, succession planning and focused bonus scheme, all designed to support and underpin the future growth of the Group.

 

Synthomer employs approximately 2,800 employees, spread across 25 manufacturing sites and offices. Part of the heritage of Synthomer is the cultural diversity across the Group. We continue to embrace diversity as an equal opportunity employer and have increased the number of women in senior management roles.

 

Our Human Resources team has developed a framework to encourage employee growth and productivity. The framework comprises five elements, supported by an open and positive working environment, HR policies and processes, and an integrated HR Business Partnership team.



Attraction and retention

Our aim is to attract, select and retain the best people by enhancing our employer brand, improving selection techniques, and continuing the development of a vibrant and challenging yet supportive culture. We recruit, train and promote employees according to their achievements and commitment, treating employees equally, regardless of their race, national origin, religious affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age or background.

Reward and recognition

We strive for fair and transparent mechanisms for staff recognition and reward. Reward is linked to a global performance management process that tracks achievement of objectives, together with the way that these are delivered. The global bonus system aligns performance, where practicable, with targets that the employee can impact. All staff have safety targets in their bonus scheme and the majority of staff that are based at local manufacturing operations have KPI and EBITDA targets aligned to their local site and business unit.



Organisational effectiveness

With an emphasis on productivity and the alignment of our Human Resource capital with value adding contributions towards the business, we have developed robust performance management principles, supported by training in aspects such as managing effective performance and coaching for performance. Succession planning has been a significant area of focus, with an emphasis on senior management levels. Business and functional leadership has been strengthened to support delivery of the ambitious organic and acquisition growth plan.




Learning and development

The Human Resources and Operational Excellence teams have developed simple leadership attributes based on best practice within the chemical industries. These complement work done within the regions and will, together with past performance, form the basis for selection and development of current and future leaders. This approach is also being embedded into the revamped Global Graduate Development Programme. 

Leadership development

Underpinning all of these pillars is our commitment to support and challenge authentic leaders who are focused on empowering staff and helping them to understand and grow their contribution to the Group and its stakeholders. Our culture continues to thrive and encourages employees to perform and to grow, encouraging leaders to treat others as they would like to be treated themselves and also to lead by example. Organisational climate surveys, 360° feedback, coaching and mentoring are all used to support our leaders and help them understand their strengths and weaknesses. 

Contact Synthomer today for more information

Should you have any questions about Synthomer’s people agenda, please contact us.

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