PROPERTY
Team spirit – operations director Louise Chapman says staff personalities are the key .
PASSIONATE PEOPLE
WORDS : DAVE ROBSON PICTURE : TOM BANKS
Caring for the job and each other is key to award-winning VAS Valuation Group ’ s success
So what ’ s the key to being a top employer ? According to VAS Valuation Group , it ’ s simple – it ’ s the people you employ .
The Middlesbrough-based valuations firm is understandably thrilled about winning one of the coveted “ Top Employer ” titles in the prestigious Mortgage Introducer Top Mortgage Employers 2022 Awards .
Competing in the 26-100 employee category , VAS received an impressive 90 per cent satisfaction rating in an anonymous staff survey , one of the highest figures achieved .
But while bosses were delighted , they weren ’ t unduly surprised – for a careful selection process and a winning blend of personalities means the 39-strong VAS Valuation Group team is more a family than a group of colleagues .
And that , says operations director Louise Chapman , is just how they want it , as it benefits the company and clients alike .
She said : “ If we find the right candidate , we will create a role for them . Someone could walk in here and there may not necessarily be a job available but we wouldn ’ t let them go . For us , it ’ s all about personality and someone who cares and is approachable . That ’ s more important than knowledge of the industry because we can teach them that .”
Founded in Wilmslow , Cheshire , seven years ago as Valuation Audit Services ( hence VAS ), it ’ s now mainly based in Stephenson House on Middlesbrough ’ s Riverside Park .
Its VAS Panel section is the UK ’ s most comprehensive valuations panel management service , having valued more than £ 5bn worth of property across the UK over the past year alone .
But a quick look around its busy , vibrant office confirms that this is no stuffy , corporate organisation . The radio ’ s on , there ’ s a constant chatter – but there ’ s a lot of work being done too .
Louise smiled : “ The job can be busy and intense at times so for them not to be able to bond with their team members and enjoy working here just , to us , seems ludicrous . “ We ’ ve got a very diverse team with all sorts of personalities . Different fashion
senses , different backgrounds , we want everyone to bring their own unique personality into the business .
“ We encourage individuals to shine and by letting people be themselves , we get the best out of them . They all do an amazing job , are so professional and have an amazing work ethic , but they ’ re all so unique too .”
Of the 39 staff , 32 are women – but Louise and VAS Panel director Graham Moore stress that ’ s not a deliberate policy . Graham said : “ It ’ s all about the person . Their strong personalities drive what they do day-to-day , so personality is paramount to us .”
As befits the “ family ” approach , VAS team members socialise after work too – and each team has even been given a budget to organise social events .
So far , a Halloween night , mini-golf and even Bongo Bingo are on the agenda – but , again , that ’ s the sort of spirit Louise and the team encourage .
Graham added : “ We have a very ‘ flat ’ management structure – it ’ s not an ivory tower approach . We ’ re all on the shopfloor together and we find solutions to problems together .
“ While our bespoke technology plays a very important part of our business , we are proud to be a ‘ people with technology , not technology with people ’ business – that ’ s the mantra .”
And at next month ’ s Tees Businesswomen Awards , where VAS is among the sponsors , it won ’ t be the managers attending . Louise explained : “ It ’ s great for our girls to see inspirational young women who are making a difference . The world is their oyster – and we ’ ll support them because we ’ re passionate that they succeed .”
Which again brings us back to VAS Valuation Group ’ s two key components – its people and their passion .
Louise said : “ When people are passionate and care about their job , and they get genuinely concerned if something isn ’ t going as planned , they will naturally motivate themselves to fix it – and that ’ s what we ’ ve got from this amazing group of people , ranging from this being their first job to some of them being more experienced .
“ Richard Branson said , ‘ It ’ s not our job to look after clients , it ’ s our job to look after the staff and they ’ ll look after the clients for us ’ – and we have that ethos here .”
For information about potentially working at VAS Group , email info @ vas-group . co . uk
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