October 2024
Dr.PAWPAW were accredited as a 2024 Sunday Times Best Places to Work (small organisation).
Entries for the 2025 Sunday Times Best Places to Work are now live and close on 31st March 2025.
Written by: Jim Higginson, Chief Operating Officer at Dr.PAWPAW.
Jim Higginson, the Chief Operating Officer at Dr.PAWPAW, joined the team in 2023 after two years as Huda Beauty’s Senior Director of Logistics and Customer Fulfilment. He is responsible for managing the logistics, supply chain, optimisation and operations at the British beauty brand famed for its multipurpose balms, hair and skincare products.
Dr.PAWPAW is a globally-renowned business, but what might surprise you is that the entire team is based right here in the UK—mostly from the Bromley area where the head office is located. Since joining the company, I’ve witnessed firsthand the close-knit dynamics of the team, comprising just over 20 members who operate more like a family. This familial atmosphere is fostered by the active involvement of Johnny and Pauline, the Founders, in the day-to-day workings of the office.
As UK businesses increasingly prioritise employee satisfaction and wellbeing, creating a great place to work goes beyond just driving success and enhancing reputation. It’s about fostering happiness, pride, and a true sense of belonging among employees—and that’s a key focus for us at Dr.PAWPAW. Achieving this isn’t a matter of implementing a few company-wide initiatives; rather, it requires a holistic approach that actively engages and involves the entire team, ultimately building an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute to our ongoing success.
Leading with Sustainability
Sustainability is becoming more and more of an important factor when attracting greater talent and enhancing the satisfaction of employees. As a brand, since the very beginning, Dr.PAWPAW has embraced sustainability as a core value. Each product, starting from the very first launch, has been designed to be multipurpose, thereby minimising product waste. The brand prioritises ethically sourced ingredients, vegan formulations, and recyclable packaging.
As Dr.PAWPAW progresses on its journey towards B-Corp certification, it underscores its unwavering commitment to sustainability. This dedication not only resonates through daily office practices but also extends to every aspect of production. Employees take pride in being part of this journey, knowing they contribute to the success of a brand that prioritises environmental responsibility and ethical practices.
Giving Back
At Dr.PAWPAW, philanthropy stands as a cornerstone of our business ethos. One of the main brand pillars since the launch of Dr.PAWPAW has been ‘giving back’. This drives our initiatives, which include donations to local, national, and international charities, as well as appointing a charity partner. Dr.PAWPAW has collectively raised over £120.000 for the Teenage Cancer Trust since starting its partnership with the charity, and the team has actively engaged in various fundraising events, including the Virgin Money London Marathon, The Yorkshire Three Peaks, the Squat Challenge, the Tough Mudder, and this year the Thames Path Ultra Challenge.
This commitment to giving back is further exemplified by this year’s launch of our Employee Charity Scheme, offering our team members opportunities to actively participate in charitable endeavours. Through this scheme, employees can use Dr.PAWPAW’s social media channels, blog, and products to raise awareness about a charity close to their heart as well as making product donations. While Dr.PAWPAW already donates to various charitable causes, this scheme ensures that employees also have a say in the ways in which the brand gives back to the community. In fact, the team benefits from one volunteering day a year, to support a charity close to their hearts during a working day. In May, some members of the team used their volunteering day at the Bromley Borough Food Bank.
Our employees experience firsthand the positive impact our contributions make on the world and the community. It’s not just a point of pride—it shows them that the work they do really makes a difference beyond our business. We believe that building a culture of giving back not only makes our workplace better, but it also strengthens our shared commitment to making a meaningful difference.
Nurturing and Unlocking Talent
At Dr.PAWPAW, we pride ourselves on having effective regular communication with the entire team, which allows us to align the business goals with the individual’s personal career objectives. Everyone has the equal opportunity to choose their own training courses. We actively encourage individuals to pinpoint areas where external training could be beneficial, supporting requests for courses such as graphic design, sales negotiation, management, and marketing, among other relevant topics.
Furthermore, the company demonstrates its commitment to nurturing talent and fostering both collective and individual growth. We regularly purchase tickets to industry events for the team, providing valuable opportunities for employees to enhance their industry knowledge and stay updated on current trends.
At Dr.PAWPAW, team members are empowered to truly own their roles, with the autonomy to make decisions that drive innovation and progress. We foster a culture where challenging the status quo is not just encouraged but celebrated, inspiring our team to constantly seek out better ways of doing things. Teamwork is essential to Dr.PAWPAW’s success and has allowed us to challenge conventional thinking on product development lead times and speed to market. Many
team members have moved up the ladder into managerial roles, while others have built on their skills through the training opportunities we offer. For example, one of our team members started as a Marketing Intern and, with the support of the business, worked their way up to become our first Head of Sales.
This dedication to supporting the career growth and expertise of each team member is pivotal not only for retaining talent but also for showing how much we value everyone’s professional journey.
Prioritising Wellbeing
Each team member benefits from a personalised health scheme through Simply Health, providing access to a broad range of medical and wellness services, including eye and dental care, as well as mental health support. This year, we introduced a hybrid working model that allows the team to work from home on Fridays, supporting flexible arrangements and accommodating various life circumstances. Furthermore, to promote work-life balance, we’ve instituted an early 4pm finish on Fridays, allowing everyone to start their weekends a bit earlier and recharge fully.
Our commitment to fostering a balanced work environment is also reflected in recent initiatives: for Mental Health Awareness Week, we organised a rejuvenating sound bath experience at a local studio to enhance mindfulness, and we offer monthly office massages to help reduce stress. Our management team is deeply understanding of life circumstances, prioritising flexibility and empathy in their approach. This compassionate leadership ensures that each team member can balance their professional and personal lives effectively, fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment.
These efforts collectively underscore our dedication to nurturing a holistic approach to wellbeing and ensuring our team thrives both professionally and personally.
Celebrating Success
Dr.PAWPAW has implemented a team-nominated reward scheme that exemplifies our commitment to fostering a supportive and collaborative work environment. This initiative encourages team members to recognize and nominate their colleagues for outstanding contributions and achievements. Recognised individuals are rewarded with perks such as shopping vouchers or funds for a day out with their family.
This program not only acknowledges individual efforts but also strengthens our sense of belonging and camaraderie within the team. By encouraging peer recognition, we create a culture where everyone’s contributions are seen, valued, and celebrated. This reinforces the notion that Dr.PAWPAW is not just a workplace, but a close-knit work family where mutual appreciation and support are integral to our success and collective happiness.
At Dr.PAWPAW we are frequent recipients of prestigious beauty industry awards. As we believe in celebrating our successes as a team, we extend invitations to our entire team to attend beauty awards ceremonies, acknowledging their integral role in achieving these accolades and expressing our gratitude for their unwavering support. This inclusive approach reinforces our commitment to recognising and valuing the contributions of every team member to our collective achievements in the beauty industry.
Conclusion
To sustain a great workplace environment as we scale into a business exceeding £10 million in size, it will be crucial for us to maintain a culture where listening to our team—understanding their needs, passions, and causes they care about—remains paramount. by making sure our team feels heard, valued, and celebrated, we reinforce their engagement with Dr.PAWPAW’s vision. This unwavering commitment to their wellbeing and fulfilment will cultivate deep pride and loyalty, ensuring that our growth only strengthens our collective dedication and enthusiasm.
This article was featured in our October 2024 edition of WorkLife Business News which you can read here.
