Baldonnell business picks up award for great place to work

BALDONNELL business Hills Fine Art & Craft Materials were recognised for the support they provide their employees by the winning the overall award at the Small Firms Association (SFA) Workplace Wellbeing showcase in the RDS.

Founded in 1981, Hills operate from a 30,000 square foot premises at Baldonnell Business Park and import and distribute fine art, craft materials and office stationary.

Hills won the SFA award for a number of reasons, including the involvement of their staff in business decisions, listening to staff feedback, facilitating opportunities for career development, supporting hybrid and flexible work arrangements, providing team building events, and access to an employee assistance programme.

Ross Hill, Managing Director, Hills, said: “It’s been really great to win this award as it’s a testament to all the work we have done over the past few years to make Hills a really great place to work.

“We listened to what was important for staff and we put that in place.

“Everyone is working to their full potential in roles that have been designed to maximise their talents with the business needs, while also balancing their personal interests and responsibilities outside of work.”

Helen Cahill, People & Strategy Manager at Hills Art explained the benefits: “For some that’s working three days per week with the other days looking after children or elderly parents and for others that’s working two days from home to cut down the commute.

“And for others it’s a shorter week to have more time to enjoy personal interests. We train staff in new areas to develop their skills and in the warehouse we ensure all staff work on end to end processes so that the work is varied and interesting.

“We are also insistent on our Safety First culture which gives staff a higher level of reassurance that their wellbeing is at the centre of how we work.”

Hills range consists of 38 world class partner brands such as Winsor Newton, Derwent, Reeves, Pilot, Helix and 3M, amounting to 16,000 product lines.

They also directly manage their own Create and Elements art and craft brands.