“The Pudding was the missing piece of the puzzle.
I always felt our values and culture were set out in a very
rushed way. They were just aspects you needed to decide on
quickly, but we wanted the process and the results to be
more considered. Culture is what connects each facet of
the enterprise. Without it, you don’t have a team.”
– In conversation with John Martin, Managing Director of Hibernia.
In this instalment of The Client Chronicles, we chatted with John Martin, Managing Director of Hibernia about culture.
Although he began his career as a chartered accountant, John has always had a passion for the health and social care sectors. As Managing Director of Hibernia, John’s aim is to influence and shape the future of later living in Ireland.
By working with The Pudding, John wanted the company to get clear on its culture and employer brand strategy. Here he describes what that journey was like.
1. How did you first come to
hear about The Pudding?
I first met Gillian about 20 years ago. We had lost touch then along the way but then I had coffee with Mark Flood from Renatus and she was put back on my radar. He spoke highly of the value she can bring to the table. The timing was perfect because we had sold our nursing home business and had a few balls in the air in terms of new startups. The early seeds of Hibernia were just being sown. We wanted to map out who we are and where we were going and how we would present that in the best possible way.
The Pudding was the missing piece of the puzzle. I always felt our values and culture were set out in a very rushed way. They were just aspects you needed to decide on quickly but we wanted the process and the results to be more considered. Culture is what connects each facet of the enterprise. Without it, you don’t have a team.
2. What was the experience of working on
the culture with The Pudding like?
It was very slick and professional. The Pudding team was very respectful of our time. We could always count on the team – there was never any messing around. It was a dream experience. It felt like a true partnership. I think it has helped to bring more confidence to the team, especially in less senior parts of the management team. Everyone is contributing. I actually didn’t anticipate that it would bond management in such a way.
3. What do you think is the end
result of the work?
Outside of the meshing of the team, it has given us a plan. Before, in our business, the weekly management agenda would be care, recruitment, finances and AOB. Now we have care, culture, recruitment, finances and AOB. Culture has become a fifth main agenda. The Pudding has also given us a toolkit which we are now embedding in our planner. We are making more of an effort with the motivational process, to ask how people are doing. The way we operate together has changed in the best way possible and this happened straight away.
4. Would you recommend working
with The Pudding? If yes, why?
Absolutely. Why? Because they have been phenomenal to work with – extremely professional at all points. The output and value add have far exceeded my expectations. It has been incredible the way the team captured who we are and what we stand for. We now have that strong foundation.