Learning and development
At Safestore, we have a strong focus on learning and development for all our colleagues, with a genuine commitment to building a culture of developing talent.
We use innovative methods of learning as well as traditional routes, with lots of support from our managers at all levels. The survey revealed that 93% of respondents knew how Safestore invests in learning and development. In 2022, we delivered over 30,000 hours of training.
All learning is evaluated, with skills development and practice gained through on-the-job supervision, regular coaching sessions, module sign-off, observation, feedback, and overall evaluation of how effective a programme of learning has been.
Across the Group, there are plenty of opportunities to put skills and knowledge into practice, with colleagues being given extra responsibilities to enable this to happen.
Our leaders understand the importance of succession planning. Talent management is sophisticated and transparent, with performance management channelled through our Values and Behaviours framework, to identify and support high potential individuals.
In the UK, both our Sales Consultant and Store Manager Development programmes continue to grow and upskill our colleagues. Everyone has the opportunity to discuss and agree their learning and development pathways with their line manager, and this is executed effectively. In our latest IIP survey, 88% of respondents stated that they have opportunities to learn at work.
We were also delighted that our Store Manager Development programme, now in its sixth year, has a record of 18 new participants for 2022. Funded by the Apprenticeship Levy this programme provides the opportunity to complete a Level 3 Management and Leadership apprenticeship, with the additional opportunity to complete an Institute of Leadership and Management (“ILM”) qualification.
In addition, all nine participants of our Senior Leadership Development programme (‘LEAD Academy’) successfully completed their Level 5 Management and Leadership apprenticeship; six of those participants
were awarded Distinctions.
Furthermore, we have re-launched our Graduate Programme, with our first intake commencing in October 2022, providing an opportunity for newly qualified graduates to build their skill set and experience, resulting in a career with Safestore.
Financial wellbeing
We understand that the current cost of living crisis is having a significant impact on personal finances. As part of Safestore’s wider wellbeing strategy, we are committed to doing what we can to ensure the financial wellbeing of our colleagues.
- During the Covid-19 pandemic, we enhanced Company sick pay (“CSP”) to alleviate the financial burden. We have taken the decision to make this enhancement permanent and all colleagues are now entitled to CSP from day one of employment.
- We applied our annual pay increase to all eligible colleagues a month early in March.
- We made exceptional payments totalling £1,000 to every colleague: £500 in December 2021 as a thank you for their contribution during the pandemic; and a further £500 cost of living payment in October 2022 to ease financial hardship over the winter period.
- We launched a ‘benefits portal’ on our intranet, creating a one-stop-shop for all colleagues to access information about which benefits are available to them and how to access them. Following feedback through our ‘Make the Difference’ people forum, we introduced an annual uniform allowance for all store colleagues.

Our workplace pension is provided by Scottish Widows, one of the UK’s leading workplace pension providers. We are pleased to offer eligible colleagues the opportunity to make their pension contributions through a salary sacrifice arrangement, recognised as the most tax-efficient way of making pension contributions.
In August, we opened entry into our 2022 Sharesave scheme, and are delighted that 48% of our colleagues now share in our success by being a member of at least one of our Sharesave schemes. This is further evidence of high levels of colleague engagement across the business.