The last 12 months have been the biggest in Ikon’s history, with three new offices opening and $172m of new billings, but that hasn’t prevented it from maintaining a positive and progressive agency culture.
THE WORKPLACE
The last 12 months have been the biggest in Ikon’s history, with three new offices opening and $172m of new billings, but that hasn’t prevented it from maintaining a positive and progressive agency culture.
Staff at the agency grew from 88 to 137, with 30% of existing staff given promotions. Pay freezes, which many agencies implemented due to the global financial crises, were not made by Ikon, which increased staff benefits, paternity, maternity and annual leave entitlements.
The agency claims that staff turnover is less that one fifth of the industry average, with a senior team churn rate of zero per cent. The average tenure of Ikon’s leadership team is 8.2 years.
Ikon had not used a recruitment agency in six years but instead relies on training existing staff or finding the right people externally, a move which it says has saved $650,000 in recruitment fees in the past 12 months.
In order to identify the best talent externally, Ikon tracks 500 potential job vacancies. It has established strong relationships with various universities, including the University of New South Wales and has leant heavily on social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook to attract digital candidates from around the world.
A five-strong “People & Culture” team develops new initiatives in the area of recruitment, training, induction, culture and communication across the business.
Ikon gives all staff their birthdays off, throws a BBQ on the Friday before each pay day, and even allows staff to “lie in with your lover” until 10:30am on the day after Valentines Day. It also offers 12 weeks paid maternity leave and two weeks paid paternity.
THE JUDGES
Ikon’s talent retention and acquisition strategies really impressed the judges who said the agency had a solid base from which its growth can be supported. Its culture and attention to detail were also praised by the panel.
FINALISTS
- BMF
- Clemenger BBDO Proximity Melbourne
- Leo Burnett
- Naked Communications