Strength through diversity

In the constantly shifting world of pharmaceutical and food science, modern companies need to respond to influential market trends – often before they fully emerge. This is an everyday challenge for Reading Scientific Services Ltd (RSSL), an analytical, training and consultancy specialist based in Reading, UK. But the 300-strong team believes one of its core corporate values holds the key to building an agile organisation, with the capability to adapt to changing client needs.

‘We are only as good as the sum of our parts, so we actively encourage diversity,’ explains managing director Jacinta George. ‘The different personalities, backgrounds and experience in our laboratories combine into a rich tapestry of knowledge. This means we can resolve important industry or client issues together; as a collaborative team of physical chemists, analytical chemists, microscopists and biologists.’

This inclusive approach at RSSL naturally extends to gender diversity; effective policies are in place to address key barriers and make working possible for all its staff. A move that is all the more impressive given that the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Breaking Barriers report recently found that 74% of respondents working in the chemical industry have seen evidence of a lack of progression and retention for women outside academia.

As a family-oriented organisation, we understand how important it is to feel supported when you need help - a belief we carry through to our work for clients too

Jacinta George, Managing director of RSSL

‘Our leadership team is made up of two men and four women,’ George says, and women account for 65% of employees overall. ‘We continually evolve our infrastructure to reflect the reality of peoples’ lives and responsibilities outside the workplace – which may mean caring for young children or elderly relatives. We don’t expect people to work within a rigid framework; we recognise that everyone needs a certain amount of fluidity. That’s why we open our doors at 6am and don’t close until 9pm. As long as the job gets done well, the exact working patterns of individuals are not an issue.’

This arrangement has proved a real draw in terms of recruitment and is undoubtedly part of the reason behind the company’s high retention rates. On average, employees stay for between five and 10 years, while a quarter of employees are veterans with more than 10 years’ service.

But RSSL is about more than just flexible working hours. Its dedication to achieving a positive work-life balance is evident in the many company activities which take place throughout the year such as family open days, BBQs and charity fundraising events. It has even led to the recent recruitment of the youngest member of the team - Monty. Sponsored by the company as part of the Dogs for Good partnership scheme, this handsome one-year old Labrador is now in training to become a support dog in the local community.

‘As a family-oriented organisation, we understand how important it is to feel supported when you need help – a belief we carry through to our work for clients too. So the puppy partnership is a very welcome and natural extension of this philosophy,’ says George.

Being part of RSSL also means benefiting from career development opportunities and the company’s strong belief in ‘growing our own people.’ Scientists are encouraged to learn and progress at every stage of their career. Working in multidisciplinary teams broadens their experience and secondments enables individuals to master the skills and competencies needed for promotion. In addition, links to parent company, Mondelēz International, opens up a global network of mentors and access to a valuable online University of technical and soft skills

We rely on a multifaceted ecosystem, where talented individuals are welcomed from all over the world. We will not let Brexit come between us.

Jacinta George

Understanding the sector

It’s this welcoming, supportive and open culture that allows RSSL to stay ahead of the curve, particularly in the fast-moving pharmaceutical and food sectors it serves.

‘We have scientific geniuses in our corridors, but they are also a representative mix of consumers. So in our drive to constantly reinvent ourselves, watch for trends and scan horizon, we are also able to draw on insights from within this diverse workforce. Our millennial employees who are vegan or vegetarian, for example, have been instrumental in keeping us on top of this hugely popular lifestyle trend and bringing this perspective into the product development process’ explains George.

And when the industry needs to move quickly – in the face of a contamination or recall crisis – RSSL is ready to respond. Its Emergency Response Service is positioned to provide rapid, global analytical support around the clock.

The results speak for themselves. RSSL has gained an enviable industry reputation as a leading authority in its field. The company’s external training programme has helped over 10,000 delegates since its launch in 1987 and its programme of seminars designed to tackle pressing industry issues are often oversubscribed. Plus, in September 2018, RSSL’s head of food safety and quality Simon Flanagan, a specialist in allergen risk assessment, was named Scientist of the Year at the prestigious Food & Drink Federation awards.

‘It happens by virtue of who we are. By investing in our employees and encouraging a nurturing, supportive culture, we are not only in a position to offer the best working environment, but also be the best at what we do,’ George says of the company’s success

Brexit pledge

With uncertain times on the horizon, RSSL is focused on planning ahead for the potential impact of Brexit. Aware of the possible impact on its customers, RSSL had updated its Responsible Person training to ensure the pharmaceutical supply chain is protected.

And in terms of its own diverse team of 23 different nationalities, George pledges that whatever happens come March 2019, we will continue to look for the right people, and support them with any relocation needs, so they can be confident of having a fulfilling career in chemistry. ‘We rely on a multifaceted ecosystem, where talented individuals are welcomed from all over the world. We will not let Brexit come between us.’

With such a positive attitude, RSSL looks set to remain at the forefront of analytical chemistry, as a united team, where different voices only seem to make the company stronger.