Winner - getAbstract Impact Award for Inspiring a Lifelong Learning Culture
Winner - OpenLearn Impact Award for Supporting Business and Organisational Goals
Interflora’s double award-winning Learning at Work Week event set out to ‘Create the future through embracing difference’. By connecting its annual GROWFEST to Learning at Work Week, the Interflora team supported two strategic programmes – the first that focus on its people which covers skills and training; and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and the second on reviewing the business Purpose and DNA through bringing people together and championing individuality.
Interflora ran a week-long event for all colleagues at all levels. The aim was to create learning opportunities which raised more awareness of differences. The mixture of live and virtual sessions offered personal growth activities for work and life, supported wellbeing, and encouraged people to ‘catch the learning bug’ and become lifelong learners.
Colleagues could take part in:
• Bite-sized sessions on how to create learning paths using Linkedin on lifelong learning, mental health awareness and diversity, equity and inclusion.
• A hands-on virtual cooking experience, ‘Tastes of the World’ to make three tapas-style meals from around the world
• A celebration of southern Italy with a pottery painting class ‘When life gives you lemons’
• A talk by a guest speaker on ‘Blossoming from within’ on the concept of planting seeds of equality, diversity and inclusion so they blossom into an inclusive community with a sense of belonging at its core
• A mental health session, ‘Look out for yourself and others’.
The week was promoted through a mix of senior team briefings, email, internal social media, weekly newsletters and the intranet with more information being released nearer the week to build engagement and excitement. The team created a special booking schedule and online brochure to make it easy for colleagues to book.
The week brought Interflora’s culture and Purpose to life. Colleagues connected virtually and in person, learnt about their own personal mental health and wellbeing, and about difference and similarities between people. The feedback and unprompted posts on Interflora’s internal social media demonstrates that colleagues valued the opportunity to learn something new. As a result, the organisation has started a conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion which supports Interflora’s strategic business programme. The team has used the feedback to reflect on what worked and what is can do differently, which will shape its next GROWFEST festival.