Heywood Pension Tech
By Mustafa Cokguler, Scrum Master
At Heywood, we believe that learning is the cornerstone of growth and innovation. We foster a culture of shared knowledge through communities that focus on areas such as technology, culture, efficient working practices, process improvements, infrastructure, and Agility. Alongside these communities, we also have a unique initiative called Hive Day.
Hive Day is a day of dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences that fosters a culture of shared learning and teaching. This day encourages us to break down the confines of job titles and embrace the collective brilliance of our people.
In this article, I'm excited to offer a glimpse into the vibrant learning culture here at Heywood and explore how it propels us forward as a more effective organisation.
Hive Day: Learning at the Heart of Work
Hive Day is a day of collaborative learning and growth. It's a once-a-month community day when colleagues from the CEO to the newest member of our teams become both learners and teachers. We exchange ideas, share insights, and explore new perspectives.
By dedicating time to learning, we recognize that knowledge is a powerful catalyst for progress. The cross-functional nature of Hive Day sessions fosters connections that go beyond departmental lines, dissolve barriers between teams, and collective collaboration take centre stage. You can explore more about Hive Day here.
Empowered Communities
While Hive Day stands as a hallmark of our unique learning culture, our commitment to this culture permeates every aspect of our organisation.
You might ask “Well, how about the rest of the month?”! We also foster vibrant communities centred around various areas of interest.
Our A11y Guild is dedicated to enhancing the accessibility of our products. Our React community provides a platform for sharing best practices related to React programming. And Team LEGO - an open community for anyone in the organisation to join - focuses on promoting organisational growth through continuous learning. DevCon is a forum where members exchange insights on the best development practices and stay updated with the latest technology news. These are some examples of the valuable initiatives we have in place.
These communities create spaces for individuals to delve deeper into topics that drive us forward, be it technological advancements, cultural insights, process efficiencies, or adaptive Agility. By nurturing these communities, we unleash the potential of our employees, break down silos and spark innovation from all corners.
From Learning to Action
Our learning culture is not just about acquiring knowledge; it's about turning that knowledge into action. For instance, during one of our Hive Days, our developers delved into Amazon Web Services (AWS) training and crafted a planning poker web app as an outcome, which has now become an integral tool. This knowledge later led our teams to create products for our customers in AWS. Additionally, members of our open Coaching Club extend their expertise to benefit the entire organisation.
During another Hive Day, our current company values took shape as everyone in the company came together, contributing collectively. Through these examples, we witness our employees using their newfound skills to tackle challenges, and becoming more adaptable and innovative.
A Quest for Excellence
Our journey towards growth and innovation is a continuous one. Just as the famous quote goes, "The only thing that is constant is change" - Heraclitus, we are reminded that in the face of ever-evolving circumstances, embracing a learning culture becomes pivotal for enabling growth.
As we've explored our own path, we encourage you to reflect on your realm. How can you foster learning, encourage collaboration, or dedicate time to both teaching and learning? Embracing this spirit of exploration propels progress. Ahead lies a route illuminated by the guiding light of learning, inspiring those who seek continual improvement.
