17
WWT Report and Financial Statements 2012/13
Staff and volunteers
WWT continues to employ and engage a team of
highly committed and specialist staff, with many of our
conservation and research staff having international
scientific reputations. WWT is also proud to continue
to be recognised by the Investors in People award and
we continue to develop the way in which we lead and
manage our teams.
WWT would not be able to operate to the same degree
without our extraordinary volunteer force. Approximately
700 volunteers contribute to our work in many different
ways, from staffing admission desks to giving guided
walks to visitors, recruiting members and carrying out
practical conservation and education work. During
2012/13 WWT invested in the recruitment of a Head of
Volunteering in order to develop the way in which we
recruit, engage with and benefit most from this dedicated
and highly valued team of supporters. Following this
appointment, a volunteer survey has enabled us to
understand better the motivations of our volunteers,
and this will assist in encouraging wider engagement
through volunteering. A volunteering strategy has been
developed with a number of aims: achieving best practice
in volunteering; ensuring that the contribution of our
volunteers remains strategically relevant; ensuring that the
volunteering experience is a positive one that volunteers
are happy to recommend to others; and extending
opportunities for involvement to wider audiences.
It is hard to put an economic value on the unpaid
contribution of time and skills that volunteers give, but a
conservative estimate of the value of the 176,000 hours
given per year amounts to approximately £1.1m.
This year, as in previous years, the Chief Executive and
other senior staff have held open presentations with staff
and volunteers at each of WWT’s nine wetland centres.
They are informed of latest strategic developments and
WWT’s financial position, and have the opportunity to
feedback their views and opinions. WWT values frequent
communication with its employees, and line managers
establish and maintain good working relationships with
their teams via regular face to face meetings, team
meetings and appraisals.
Equal opportunities
We are committed to developing equal employment
opportunities. Selection, promotion and access to training
are based solely on relevant aptitudes, skills and abilities. In
this way, every employee is able to develop their individual
skills and talents to make a positive contribution to WWT.
Men and women are treated equally with regard to terms
and conditions of employment and pay, where they are
employed doing the same or broadly similar work.
Our commitment is demonstrated through our employment
policies, which ensure access to recruitment, promotion,
selection and training regardless of the individual’s age,
sex (or gender assignment), sexual orientation, race,
religion or belief, disability, marital/civil partnership status or
pregnancy. WWT will consider any reasonable adjustments
wherever practical to enable people with disabilities to
apply for jobs and to work at WWT.
“Caerlaverock has the power
to touch, thrill and inspire
giving an opportunity to get
really close to nature”
Brian Morrell, Centre Manager,
(Caerlaverock Wetland Centre)
Photo: © WWT
