From Coursework to Culture Catalyst: Micom’s Journey to Becoming a Great Place to Work

At Micom, culture isn’t something we write down and forget. It’s something we shape, daily, deliberately, and together.

Over the past two years, we’ve made it our mission to listen better, act faster, and build a workplace that reflects the values we live by. This year, that work paid off: our Great Place to Work® score jumped from 90% to 97%.

But the number isn’t the story. The journey is.

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It Started with One Voice

One of the most powerful moments came when Kasia, our Print Centre Manager, shared research from her Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship. She spotted gaps in our internal communication and feedback loops, and we acted on them.

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That moment changed things. It reminded me that leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about listening. Kasia’s work led to our first GPTW survey, a transparent benchmark that helped us get better, fast.

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We Didn’t Just Listen, We Moved

The feedback we got in 2024 (90% score) was strong, but we didn’t sit still. We took the input seriously and made tangible changes:

• Introduced a salary sacrifice scheme
• Launched ‘Exceptional Points’ to spotlight standout effort
• Added free eye tests, Cycle to Work, and weekly fruit at HQ
• Built a Giving Committee, backing Baby Godiva, Coventry Haven, defibs and a school in Zanzibar
• Created more connection through Tea Tuesdays, Diversity Days, Townhalls and BBQs

These weren’t token gestures. They were targeted, people-first actions driven by what we heard.

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Trust Is Fuel

In 2025, our scores jumped again, trust, fairness, and meaning all up.

• “My work has special meaning” UP 19 points
• “Management trusts people to do a good job” UP 14 points
• Celebration of events UP 14 points
• Unique benefits UP 34 points

When trust goes up, so does energy, innovation, and accountability. It's that simple.

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People First. Always.

One of our mantras: invest in people, not just titles. The GPTW certification isn’t the destination — it’s the result of backing people to lead from where they are.

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Kasia didn’t just complete coursework, she sparked a cultural shift. That’s the kind of leadership we want everywhere in the business.

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Growth Without Losing Ourselves

Micom is evolving, from traditional print to a digital-first comms platform. With that comes change. The GPTW journey has helped us keep culture front and centre as we scale. It keeps us honest, human, and aligned.

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The Edge That Lasts

Great culture isn’t fluffy. It’s a competitive edge. It helps us hire better, build trust faster, and perform stronger — especially when things get tough.

What we’ve built isn’t a list of perks. It’s a mindset. A daily decision. And it’s one I’ll keep championing.

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Final Word

I’m proud of what we’ve achieved, but even more excited about what’s next.

Culture doesn’t come from posters or policies. It comes from people. From conversations. From action.

Let’s keep building.