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At Frettens, we take employee satisfaction seriously, we don't just pay lip service to it.
Every year, we ask our team to take part in an annual independent survey. It's completely anonymous, results are shared with the whole team, and it helps us to continually improve our working environment.
Best Companies carry out the survey for us and this year, have named us as an 'outstanding' place to work.
See why our team love working with us
Alongside answering questions on the environment, management, support, culture, rewards and recognition, the team are also asked to give comments on what it is like to work at Frettens. To give you an idea, we've shared some of these below:
Flexibility
A relaxed working environment, with flexible working options, makes Frettens a great place to work.
The offer of flexible working was great for me because I’m a football referee in my spare time so there’s occasional days where I need to leave early to get to the games and that’s never an issue.
Trust and Freedom
My Colleagues are supportive, knowledgeable, and fun to be around, creating a good working atmosphere.
I feel I am given the trust and freedom to perform my role in the best way I see fit.
One of the things I’ve enjoyed about working at Frettens is that I’m not micromanaged and it’s a good size of firm in that we’re big enough to have good quality work but not so big that you’re simply a number. Everybody knows everyone.
Work-Life Balance
Empathy and understanding of the work life balance. Being approachable and feeling secure and appreciated.
The people, the morals and values. The balance in age groups and personal back rounds along with lovely office space, great managers and of course a great MD. They have been very understanding to a previous personal issue I had which required some time off and they were great, there was no pressure at all... even sent me flowers. They also have great company benefits such as private health care and your birthday off as an extra day holiday. Genuinely love working at Frettens.
In terms of a work-life balance generally, it has been fantastic. I can spend more time with my daughter, doing things like school runs.
Progression
"One of the things about Frettens is there’s no tick boxes as to you need to do this before you are promoted so 3 ½ years and achieving 2 promotions there’s no you have to have been here x number of years before you get promoted."
"It was made quite clear to me at the interview that those people that work hard and want to progress their career within the firm will be given the help and support to do that, and that is what has happened in my case."
"It’s certainly a younger, more progressive firm. Not saying that there isn’t the experience here, because there certainly is, but I think there is a focus on bringing through young talent and career progression."
Investment in IT Infrastructure
Investment in IT infrastructure giving you the tools to do the job on a day to day basis. Excellent support from IT, Reception, Business Development and HR. Supportive environment between fee earning and support team members. Time taken to report on progress of business and to explain what is required on the billing front personally by senior partner.
I have worked previously at larger regional firms and I can say the IT at Frettens is probably the best I have worked at which makes my day-to-day life much easier.
I’ve never actually worked at a firm where they are so up together with the technology and being paperless is a huge bonus.
Having worked in London, where the IT was second-to-none, I didn’t think that it could get any better, but it has. It has just made such a difference to my working day.
There are fantastic IT support systems here, which doesn’t sound like a big deal, but when you don’t have it, it really is.
Really good IT and brilliant infrastructure. The equipment is good. The team are really good. If you need any help, there is help immediately, you don’t have to wait. I think they’re brilliant.
At interview I was told the next expense after salaries each month is IT. It really impressed me that they invest so heavily in IT, which helps to support their staff to do their job to the best of their ability.
The system that Frettens use, it works, it does what it’s supposed to do. The time recording actually allows you to capture the time that you have because it has various different categories that you can record under.
The IT system is very forward-thinking and actually makes things more efficient with client matters which I find very helpful.
Communication
"Frettens are always looking for new ways to develop within departments and within the firm and they are always open to their employees having a contribution towards these ideas."
"I really like the amount of communication that’s available within Frettens. You are told on a regular basis what’s coming down from management and just to have that inclusion within everything that’s going on does make you feel very much part of the firm and you can actually achieve what you need to achieve."
"I really love the way you’re kept in the loop I don’t think I’ve ever experienced that before. The monthly meetings are really good, you get that sense of being involved in something and actually you're important because they feel it's important to update you."
"Communication wherever you work, is key. I think here, they’re really good with their communication. They are not secretive about anything. The partner tells you what’s going on. You get to know things that come out of strategy that the partners have meetings for. They tell you where we are headed and you get to know that quite often. So, things like that are different for me."
Support
The welcome I received when I started and caring and friendly way everyone has supported me. Also the brilliant training given throughout and the way you can ask for help if required.
Progressive, modern, friendly firm in a sector that often only pays lip service to progress. Good firm, good people and good clients.
It’s a really collaborative atmosphere, you can speak with lawyers from other departments, you get training constantly, there is career progression here and it’s just a nice, bright, friendly place to work.
I really like the team ethos at Frettens. I was told about it when I had my interview. I was a bit skeptical at first about it, because other firms I have worked at have been very individual-based rather than team based, but it really is very team focused. All the teams support each other and the other departments assist each other as well and it is really quite clear that it is different from other firms I have worked at previously.
It’s such a great team. No matter how busy you are, if you’ve got a question that you need help on, there will always be somebody that’s available to help you.
I love working for Frettens because they’re a very supportive firm and a very forward-thinking firm.
Working Together
Family atmosphere. Most people really do care about each other and the work we do.
There is a real focus and sense of all working together for a common aim.
Happy and friendly environment where everyone works well together and everyone is treated the same no matter what their pay is.
I really like the feel of it, it’s got a really family feel, I remember when I first started everybody seemed approachable and you didn’t feel uncomfortable asking too many questions.
The People
The people who work for Frettens make it a great workplace.
The community, the drive, the technology, not feeling like a small cog in a big machine.
The partners and staff, who are an excellent team. Their collective efforts to be friendly, yet professional towards clients is spot on! Couldn't really ask to work with such an amazing group of people.
My first impression of when I came to Frettens for my interview was that they were very open and welcoming.
Everyone is really enthusiastic and you really feel like you are involved in something. Everyone is really professional it’s just a nice atmosphere, lots of good people to work with.
It’s a familiar feel. I think everybody talks to everybody else, everybody is very friendly. The partners are very friendly. They’re not tucked away in their ivory towers in their offices. Everybody is very approachable and that’s what I like.
I like how inclusive the firm is and how supported you feel. It’s a very friendly atmosphere and its nice to be back in an office.
3-words to describe working at Frettens
Careers at Frettens
If you would like to find out more about working at Frettens, you can see a full list of vacancies and benefits by visiting our careers page.
If you can't see the role that you are looking for there, don't worry. We are always on the look-out for great people to join our team. If you feel like Frettens is the place for you, feel free to get in touch with Catharine Snow, our Operations Manager.
