Biocatalysts Ltd is a knowledge-based manufacturing Company. We are an Industrial Biotechnology Company that makes enzymes primarily for the food processing industry. For the Company to continue to grow and prosper, the staff needs to continue to learn and develop. Biocatalysts strives to be a business-excellent Company that gives world-class satisfaction to its customers; is seen to be technically excellent in the world of industrial enzymes; offers a good return to its shareholders and an excellent working environment for its staff.

Purpose
This Charter aims to ensure that staff knows fully what is expected of them but also what they can expect from working at Biocatalysts. It is complimented by a very strong culture of the Company. It seeks to promote positive relationships and good employment practice as a necessary part of achieving the Company’s mission and goals.

We do not just focus on the present; we are a long-term thinking Company and want to give you something to look forward to. Our destiny is in your hands and we want to actively engage you in creating a bright future.

Leadership and Management
You will benefit from effective management and leadership skills and you can expect a high level of responsibility and control over your work as we encourage people to do their job in their own way. Your Managers are encouraged to learn and develop in both Management techniques and the business department that they control. Managers are encouraged to spend at least one day per month learning. You should regularly see the benefits of this learning passed down into the department.

Learning and Development
You will be given a comprehensive induction on joining the Company and be encouraged to realise your full potential in your role by learning new skills and technologies. The Company will ensure that you will have the opportunity to participate in Development (by whatever means) relevant to the Company needs.

We will regularly review the provision of time off and support for training and development to ensure that it is appropriate and accessible to all regardless of your working patterns.

A formal review of your own personal development will take place at least once per year. This ensures that your development is fully in line with the Company’s needs and that your development continues at a pace you are happy with.

Appraisals
The Company values the results of regular and frequent assessments of staff performance. Extensive formal appraisals are carried out twice per year plus a quarterly target review is carried at the end of the other two quarters. Appraisals are based on performance in two key areas, namely performance against departmental targets (or your contribution to them) and behaviour. Staff that do well on targets but whose behaviour does not match that required by the Company will never do well overall in the Biocatalysts appraisal system. No one wants to work in an environment that is made unpleasant by the inappropriate behaviour of a few members of staff.

Health and Safety
We will maintain our working environment in a healthy, safe way and provide you with a smoke free atmosphere, excellent facilities and equipment.

Standards
To ensure the Company delivers in all areas it adopts several business standards. These currently are:
ISO 9001:2000
EFQM Business Excellence model
Investors in People
We are also working towards the following standards: ISO 14001 (Environmental), ISO 18001 (Health & Safety), ISO22000:2005 Food Management Safety Systems and BS8477 Code of Practice for Customer Service

Communication and Involvement
We will keep you regularly informed about the business and your role in it through one-to-one’s, Company meetings, internal and external customer surveys, newsletters, staff suggestions and notice boards.

We will encourage feedback from staff on communication and involvement so that we can find better ways of improving and achieving this goal.

This is an open Company. Most information about the Company is freely available or can be found out by asking your line manager.

Contribution
You will be encouraged to maximise your contribution to the success of the Company in which high standards of performance are expected, encouraged, supported and rewarded. You do this by striving to learn how to do your job better and more efficiently. In addition, staff work with very little day-to-day supervision, Biocatalysts suits employees who value the freedom to plan and deliver their work in the way they want but whilst still meeting the necessary standards.

Working Environment
Working in a messy and untidy environment is unpleasant, inefficient and unsafe. Hence, maintaining tidy desks, offices, laboratories and factory are key to having a top class environment to work in. If you encounter a problem, which includes problems with electrical items like lights, decoration, plumbing etc, it is your duty to report it to your line manager.

Balancing Work and Personal Commitments
You will benefit from our flexible working policy that will help you to balance home and work commitments. This is achieved without comprising our world class customer satisfaction. Flexible working is a benefit, not a given and must always be discussed with your line manager.

Social Responsibilities
We will endeavour to conduct our business in an environmentally sound way and play an active part in being a beacon of business excellence in the local community. We undertake regular charity events and most staff contribute to payroll giving through their salary.