The Outward Bound Trust is officially the happiest workplace in the UK. The organisation won the accolade at the Laughology Happiness Awards 2016. Winners were honoured at a ceremony in London on 18 November. And in an impressive double, Outward Bound Trust youth leader Rob Smith was also declared the UK’s happiest employee.
The awards recognised the happiest businesses, organisations, workers, schools and teachers in Britain. They are the first of their kind to be held in Britain and were staged by consultancy Laughology and backed by Nat West.
Both winners in the business categories impressed the panel of judges by placing happiness at the heart of work life. The Outward Bound Trust, which has headquarters in Cumbria and runs a range of centres across the country, was described as an amazing and inspiring place to work. It runs an initiative called ‘The Way We Work Together’, which enshrines values of trust and cooperation throughout the organisation. Rob was chosen as the winner in the happiest employee category for his boundless enthusiasm, sense of humour and for the efforts he takes to inspire the young people he leads.
Francesca Scott, Outward Bound Trust Head of People Strategy said: “We are over the moon because we’ve worked really hard to make the Outward Bound Trust somewhere people really want to come and work. There were some amazing businesses in the awards so it was brilliant to win.”
Happiest employee Rob Smith said: “It means a huge amount to win. The job I do is about inspiring young people and giving them opportunities to potentially do things they’ve never done before, so this isn’t about me it’s about the fantastic organisation I am privileged to be a part of. I am certainly privileged to have won the award.”
The Laughology Happiness Awards 2016 were launched by learning and development consultancy Laughology, which uses the psychology of happiness and humour to help people and organisations develop and improve. They recognise the increasing importance that happiness plays in business and education. They honour organisations and individuals who put happiness at the heart of what they do.
The awards were sponsored by Herman Miller and Crown House Publishing and were also supported by government happiness adviser Sir Anthony Seldon, who said: “The awards are important because they recognise that happiness is not just a nebulous concept. It is a vital component in the human condition that needs to be encouraged and nurtured in all areas of life.”
Laughology Founder and CEO Stephanie Davies said: “Our winners and all our finalists have been amazing. The awards are our way of recognising and honouring those in the UK who, like us, are making the world a better place through happiness. I’ve been blown away by the reaction to the first ever Happiness Awards. They have captured the imagination of people and organisations across the UK and they prove that both business and education take happiness seriously.”
