Moneysupermarket Group

Background
In 2017 Moneysupermarket Group (MSMG) announced its ambition to ‘Re:Invent’ business strategy, supported by a cultural shift to be innovative and inclusive. In the same year, it restructured the business, generating a need for increased collaboration and sharing. Following this change, teams said they wanted more opportunities to broaden skillsets, more collaboration to prevent silo working and more time to put training into practice. The engagement survey reflected this, with only 53% of people feeling positive about learning opportunities and 34% about career pathways. It was time to Re:Invent both these areas.

As a vibrant fintech company, traditional learning programmes were not suitable and thus Freedom to Grow was born, designed to create a genuine shift in culture. Research established that blockers to learning included getting budget buy in from management and HR. It was also clear colleagues wanted to drive their own learning agenda.

"A vibrant fintech company, traditional learning programmes did not fit"

Approach
The outcome was the Freedom Pot: a £300 stipend to spend on development for existing or future roles, projects, side gigs or wellbeing activities. No manager approval is needed and there is no period of grace for new starters – even those working their notice period can use it. An internal communications strategy launched with every employee receiving a packet of seeds. Sponsor vlogs and key message reinforcement by executive teams followed.

Outcome
After three months, 350 people had accessed their Freedom Pot while by the end of 2018 90% of colleagues had used it. Inspirational ‘How are you spending your Freedom Pot?’ case studies are featured in the company newsletter and recorded on the group’s LMS. Meanwhile, 88% of employees in MSMG’s survey said it was an “amazing idea” and 85% said it had made a huge difference in helping them develop. The Freedom Pot is now one of MSMG’s USPs in the race for talent.