RECOGNITION
About Sir Mike Stratton
Sir Mike Stratton, one of the most respected leaders in his field, trained
in medicine and specialised in histopathology (changes in tissues caused
by disease). He since focused his research on the genetics of cancer
and says: “We only know the causes of about half of cancer cases. The
rest are a mystery. We know that some cancers are more common in
some parts of the world than others but we don’t know why. By looking
deep into the DNA of cancers from five continents my team wants to
understand what the differences are in these places and, hopefully,
identify new and preventable causes.”
dental and eye care schemes, and the cycle to work scheme,
which offers an interest-free loan to purchase a bicycle.
We also have social events, from on-site cinema evenings
to coach excursions. And, on ‘pay day Friday,’ there are
drinks and nibbles for staff in the afternoon.
How supportive are you towards wellbeing?
I’m committed to everyone’s health and wellbeing and
Sanger has a range of activities, worksho ps, support groups
and leaflets. We promote outdoor meetings, lunchtime walks,
volunteering for on-site conservation activities (we have a
man-made wetland on-site), eating healthily and sleeping
well. And we boast a 24-hour gym and multiple exercise
classes, including Jazzercise, yoga and circuit training. In
relation, employees are offered flexible working, remote
working and the opportunity to get involved in volunteering
schemes which enhances the work/life balance.
What is the CSR like within the company?
We were given the Athena Swan bronze award in 2014,
which is a Charter to advance women’s careers in STEMM
subjects (science, technology, engineering, maths and
medicine). It celebrates good practice in recruiting, retaining
and promoting women in those subject areas within
academia. And, on-site, we have a variety of environmental-
related projects, including plastic and metals recycling,
biodegradable waste, and limited paper usage.
We have a ‘green’ travel policy and operate a number
of free bus services for our staff. Once a month, we offer
Dr Bike; which is a free bicyle servicing facility (and free
breakfast!) for all those who cycle to work. There’s a car
sharing scheme, too, aiming to reduce the number of single
occupancy vehicles that attend our site.
Finally, what qualities do you look for in an assistant?
A ‘can do’ attitude, complete discretion, the ability to offer
me and others high-level counsel and, most importantly,
trust. They should have a complete understanding of the
organisation’s core business and working processes, whilst
being curious about the business and all the people in it.
Finally, an assistant must be approachable, resilient, and
have accountability. S
April/May 2018 | Chief of Staff 21