‘It’s critical we acknowledge and reward a job well done’

Frucor Suntory stood out for its strong employee engagement (81%) along with a range of initiatives

BY John Hilton 20 Aug 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has meant it’s never been more important for HR professionals to remain on their toes when it comes to attracting the best talent.

One of the winners of HRD NZ’s Employer of Choice Awards for 2020 is Frucor Suntory. The Awards recognise organisations for their overall employee experience – HRD invited submissions from companies across New Zealand.

Employers were asked to provide qualitative and quantitative information to demonstrate their achievements in areas including leadership, training and professional development, communications, diversity and inclusion, work life balance, recruitment, remuneration and access to technology and resources.

Frucor Suntory CEO, Darren Fullerton said the Employer of Choice award is great recognition of the work their People team has delivered – “and the support from our leaders to put our people at the heart of everything we do”.

“Frucor Suntory is known for its vibrant culture and thirst for success,” said Fullerton.

“As an employer, it’s critical we provide outstanding initiatives – like learning and development and leadership opportunities – and that we acknowledge and reward a job well done.”

In particular, Frucor Suntory stood out for its strong employee engagement (81%) along with a range of initiatives, including:

The launch of a Diversity & Inclusion Strategy. The company is also the first FMCG business in New Zealand to implement equal gender paid parental leave.
Unveiling their digital learning platform – “MySU” – during the COVID-19 lockdown (incorporating locally developed, LinkedIn Learning and Suntory global content). It’s a great example of helping employees unlock their potential and drive their own learning agendas.
The extension of communication channels and digital technologies (including podcasts, vlogs, even TikTok dances!)
Continuing their Leadership Development journey with the refresh of Frucor Suntory’s “Leadership Mindset” material. The company’s unique, experiential Leadership programmes showcase the Frucor Suntory “magic” – and help drive personal and commercial performance. As one attendee commented, they are “…an excellent example of how Frucor Suntory is committed to building not just great leaders, but great people.”

In 2020, it was great to see some return stars from previous years, as well as many new entries to the list.

To read further about HRD’s Employer of Choice Awards, click here.