This national award recognises the strength of Solopress’ company values project, developed through full-team consultation and rolled out across the entire business.
The Vision & Values award recognises the homegrown Solopress Values project, which began as a company-wide initiative to define what makes Solopress feel like Solopress. Rather than impose a top-down set of principles, the project drew on the experiences and insights of colleagues from across the business to shape a meaningful, relatable and distinctive set of values.
The five final values — It’s not just cupcakes, Smile and error, We rinse our spoons, We’re the sidekick and Mushy P’s — reflect everyday behaviours and attitudes that colleagues said made Solopress a great place to work.
With informal language, bold design and practical relevance, the values have been embraced throughout the organisation, strengthening Solopress’ culture from the print floor to the customer service desk. Since their introduction, the company has seen a 42-point drop in staff turnover and a 9-point rise in colleague satisfaction.
Emma Harvey-Bignell, Head of Culture at Solopress, commented:
“We’re incredibly proud to win the Engage Award for Vision and Values. The Solopress Values weren’t created in a boardroom. They were built from the ground up, shaped by the people who live them every day. This recognition is a credit to everyone at Solopress who took part in the process, shared their ideas and helped create a set of values that truly reflects our culture.”
The organisers has this to say about Solopress’ submission: ”The judges loved this creative and human approach to vision and values, brought to life through strong results and a fantastic video showcasing its impact on engagement. What really stood out was how the team developed values that are simple, authentic, and truly resonate with their people—avoiding corporate jargon and creating something that genuinely connects across the business.”
The Engage Awards ceremony took place on Tuesday 11th November at Old Billingsgate Market, London. They were hosted by actor, writer and comedian Marcus Brigstocke, known for his appearances in film, radio and television shows including QI and Argumental. Solopress fought off competition from high-profile finalists including Ferrari, Royal Mail, Westminster City Council and Nationwide Building Society.