12th December 2024

Championing Change

It’s fair to say most people aren’t keen on change, indeed, it’s a basic human instinct to protect our routines and endeavour to remain in control of situations.
However, in a business committed to continuous improvement this could have proved challenging. Yet, it was nothing that a little reframing couldn’t fix to enable us all, in every role in the business, to help us all change together.
This is where our ‘Change Champions’ initiative was born.
Launched in the business just a few weeks ago, the senior leadership team took the decision to ask the entire Cardboard Box team to lead a new continuous improvement initiative, deciding what needed changing in the business to make improvements in output, cost saving, material efficiency, wellbeing, health and safety and general site improvements.
Most pleasingly, over 20 people took the opportunity to play their part in shaping the future success and longevity of the business.
“After running some trial projects in the past, we’ve found we had greater engagement from everyone at all levels by asking for key stakeholders to help solve issues that directly impact them,” said Daniel Johnston, Managing Director, Cardboard Box Company. “Many companies still take a more autocratic route to force necessary changes to improve productivity, but for us it’s about being a better business in every way – as efficient and productive as we can be, whilst ensuring our team is happy and supported at work.”
After the volunteers came forward, discussions took place which resulted in ten team members identified to spear head the changes in ten areas of the business – the areas of the business where they are the experts.
A range of challenges across the business were also prioritised, and a programme put in place to make the changes necessary.

Daniel concluded; “It’s been eye-opening to see common problems identified across the business but by creating the Change Champion team, it’s already starting to feel they can solve any issue in a positive and inclusive way.
“It is reducing resistance to change, building stronger teams and driving autonomous conversations crucial in helping us reach our health and safety goals which encompass our teams mental and physical health and wellbeing, and the financial health of the business.”