2020-2021

A year of transforming lives

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individual lives impacted positively
At the Wise Group, we strive for change for the better— for our customers, partners and our colleagues.

We are passionate about transforming lives by lifting people out of poverty.

By embracing innovation and new technologies we can reach more people in more places.

Making a difference socially

As a social enterprise, we think it's important to measure our social impact and achievements.

We believe that being distinctive is a choice. Over the past year, our identity has been defined by the stands we have taken for a flexible workplace and wellbeing culture and is reflected in our new values and manifesto.

Being distinctive isn’t easy - but it is worth it.

Our efforts also contribute to sustainable economic growth. Internally, we’re helping colleagues understand how the decisions they make affect the financial wellbeing of our enterprise. We budget for impact and our eye is on return on investment.

Going the distance for colleagues and customers

100% COLLEAGUES
WORKING REMOTE FIRST

77 COLLEAGUES JOINED
OUR ENTERPRISE
Our award-winning Remote First approach allows colleagues to work in a way that suits them, while bringing us closer to our customers.

“Blended working for me has been life changing. Despite taking a while to adjust at the start, I have a life work balance which makes me enjoy the job even more and fit it round my life and family.”

Emma Howe, Scotland

“Knowing that my girls are making memories with family and other loved ones while I am still able to evolve in my professional career is what matters the most to me.”

Audrey Bernard, France

“With Remote First, I can work full-time from a beautiful island in Greece and enjoy the many benefits of grandparent childcare.”

Maria Fotiadou, Greece

Going the distance for colleagues and customers

It is important to us that all our colleagues feel safe, healthy, included, and satisfied.

Our range of Wellbeing Activities offer all our colleagues the opportunity to improve their physical, emotional and financial wellbeing.
- Brian leads our weekly online HeadStrong sessions
- Colleagues benefit from the outdoors
- Speakers help build understanding
- Colleagues share ambition and build relationships
- “More Than Fitness has completely changed my life in the last twelve months. I would encourage anyone to go and give it a try.”
  Donna Ward, Community Justice Specialist
- 4,236 people into work
- “What's important to me is that customers leave working with me with a sustainable future; able to contribute.”
  Alison Green, Employment Services
- 39,614 supported with energy advice to tackle fuel poverty
- “Without Matthew’s help, I’d be stuck in limbo. My stress levels have reduced massively because I’m not worrying about the debt anymore. I’m 100% in a much better place than before.”
  Tariq Sattar
  
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- 3,479 people supported with desistance leaving prison
- “It’s the knock on effect of what we do— the families benefit, society benefits, the community benefits.”
  Roseann McNamara, Community Justice

THRIVING THROUGH COLLABORATION

Our mentoring approach helps our customers to flourish and contributes to us all living in a fairer society. The journeys of our mentors and all colleagues are too numerous to list.

Here are just some of the projects we have delivered this year:

Energy Shedders	Through the gate
New Routes Mentoring	Fair Start Scotland
Wise Steps	Dial
Home Energy Advice Team	RE-CONnect
JETs	New Routes No Limits
Cloch HOUSING ASSOCIATION	Shine
Financial Inclusion	Age scotland
Talent Match	Homes for Good
Home Energy Scotland	HEEPS/ABS
CSCS/ITA	Domestic Loans
KICKSTART	Energy Crisis Fund

“We can come together as a team, utilise different ideas, and that has a ripple effect on supporting our customers.”

Ross Stoker, Community Justice

“Smart meters help people make small behavioural changes. Someone with a visual disability might not be able to read it or see it, and working together with Visibility Scotland means the no-one is forgotten about.”

Emma Howe, Energy Advice and Advocacy

Hurdling boundaries...

Through new business models

through NEW COLLABORATIONS

through ONLINE TOOLS

through New Sectors

Created in September 2020, our joint-venture St Giles Wise has enabled vast expansion in England and Wales. The Ministry of Justice praised our innovative new approach in bidding for MoJ projects.

Our partnership with St Giles delivers high-calibre services for offenders, empowering them to overcome barriers and take positive steps forward in their lives.

We ventured into a new employability world by teaming up with Capita on the JETS programme which saw us securing 500 new jobs for those unemployed in this period.

We created CPO Connect, an online tool which helps local authorities with delivering Community Payback Orders online at a time when face-to-face was not possible.

Our commitment to providing advice on active travel extends to supporting local GPs and may extend to ‘social prescribing’ for a healthier community.

Celebrating difference
As part of our journey from good to great, we are recognising and embracing the aspiration of becoming truly diverse and inclusive.

We are delighted to support the launch of our first colleague-created Equity Programme, ‘Be Wise Together’. We want to embrace and empower difference whilst encouraging individuals to achieve their full potential.
- “I think people can look at other people and think certain things… and misjudge, without looking at the bigger picture.”
  Sharon Pickup, Team Lead

The Future
We are passionate about transforming lives by lifting people out of poverty.

We believe that we can be the best at transforming lives through mentoring.

We will re-invest the money we make to transform more lives.