05 Jun 2025
If you’ve ever wondered who keeps the smol engine running smoothly, supports every teammate behind the scenes, and helps make smol an even better place to work… then look no further than our brilliant People team. (Yes, that’s HR… but we reckon the H stands for heart, humour and humanity).
This cracking team are the ones championing fairness, inclusion and wellbeing for every smol worker, AND making sure the way we work together is as forward-thinking as the products we put out into the world.
“Right from the off it was clear that I was somewhere special: lots of organisations talk about being mission driven, but at smol I really felt that their desire to do good for people and the planet drives their decision making.”
Suzie (People Director), on what makes working at smol different
B Corp believers.
And when it comes to B Corp and our commitment to doing business better, the work our People team do is key to our Workers impact area. This is the part of the B Corp assessment that looks at how well a business supports its team, promotes development, and builds a fairer workplace for all.
“The Workers pillar reflects our commitment to creating an environment where our team feel genuinely supported, both in their roles and in their lives beyond work. Put simply, people are at the heart of everything we do.”
Suzie, on why the Workers pillar matters
Curious to see some of their game-changers from 2024?
1. sharing is caring.
They launched a brand-new share option scheme so everyone (who’s been with us for 12 months+) can have a real stake in our success.
2. perks with purpose.
They consulted with the whole smol team on benefits, so we could build something more meaningful for the people who power this place.
“One thing that often goes unnoticed is the way we continuously take the temperature of the culture and team sentiment. We’re regularly checking in with people, listening carefully to how they’re feeling, and using those insights to help shape our priorities and approach. It plays a big part in continuing to create a positive and supportive environment.”
Suzie, on what the People team do behind the scenes
3. room to grow.
They refreshed our approach to career development, shaped directly by employee feedback.
and they just don’t stop.
Because just like we’re always working to reduce our plastic use or water waste… we’re also working to build an even better workplace. So, what’s next?
Thanks to the dedication of our People team, 2025 looks epic. Here’s some of what they’ve got up their sleeves:
1. brain training.
More professional development training for every team member (because we believe learning should never stop).
2. say it better.
Manager training on giving great feedback so we can build better conversations and support across all our teams.
3. hearts & minds.
Upgraded staff benefits, especially around mental health and family-friendly policies (because life happens outside of work, too).
4. safe space.
A formal system for raising concerns or complaints, to make sure every voice can be heard safely and fairly.
“What excites me most is seeing the real impact our work has on our people. We’ve recently launched some new initiatives in response to feedback from our teams to double our secondary caregiver leave, introduce a fertility policy with paid time off for treatment, and partner with Self Space to give mental health training for our line managers.
I’m looking forward to understanding how these changes make a difference day to day. For me, the most exciting part is seeing our people feel the benefit of what we’re building.”
Suzie, on what she’s most excited about in 2025.
and why does this all matter?
Because being a better business doesn’t stop at great products or planet-first packaging. It means looking after your people. Listening. Learning. Building together. And none of that happens without a team dedicated to it full-time.
So to our incredible People team, Suzie, Maddy, Charlotte and Dani: thank you for every 1-to-1, every Slack message, every policy rewrite, every wellbeing brainstorm, every challenge tackled head-on.
You’re proof that doing business better starts from within.
And we’re so lucky to have you.
“Compassionate. Collaborative. Cats.
It would be cat-lovers but that may be a stretch for Charlotte, who has mutual disdain for hers, and puts up with all of ours! We often have Maddy’s cat Toni join our calls, she’s like the 5th member of the team.”
Suzie, summing up the People team in 3 words