In this issue:
What's new?
Help shape a great place to work – tell us what you think
We all want to feel proud of where we work. That’s why creating a positive, supportive environment — with the right tools and resources — is key to helping us achieve great things together at the council.
As part of our updated People Strategy, we’re committed to giving you a great employee experience. But to do that, we need to hear from you — what’s working well, and what could be better?
Thanks to your feedback last year, we’ve already made some meaningful changes to how we work, including improvements to the recruitment process, how we reach non-networked colleagues and how we intend to build on the Growing Our Own approach. These changes are helping to make everyday tasks smoother and more efficient.
We’re listening – take our short survey
To keep the momentum going, we’ve created a shorter survey to hear your thoughts on your experience working with the council. Your feedback will directly shape the actions we take over the next year.
Based on key themes taken from the last survey, we’d love your feedback on the following:
- Your overall experience working here
- Senior leadership
- Flexible and hybrid working
- Learning and development opportunities
- Your wellbeing
- Your workload
- Confidence in your digital skills
The survey is anonymous, and every response helps us build a better workplace for everyone. Thanks to everyone who responded last time. We would really appreciate your help again – we’re especially keen to hear from our frontline teams so please help spread the word. The survey is open until 7 November 2025.
Thank you for your help
The Human Resources and Organisational Development (HROD) Team
Veterans Community: Connect, Support, and Share
As we continue to evolve how we work, we want to help colleagues come together and make connections.
Did you know that we have launched a Veterans (ex-armed forces, reservists or regular) Community group?
The group is for colleagues who have served in the UK armed forces, as a regular or a reserve. This group offers a space to connect with others who share similar experiences, build a sense of camaraderie, and contribute to shaping a supportive and inclusive workplace. Colleagues are continuing to join the group; they have varied service backgrounds and contribute a wide range of transferable skills and knowledge to their roles at the council.
Service leavers don’t always relate to the term veteran but it is defined as anyone who has served for at least one day in His Majesty’s Armed Forces (Regular or Reserve) or Merchant Mariners who have seen duty on legally defined military operations the Merchant Navy.
The group meets online using Microsoft Teams, with meetings taking place every three months during the pilot. Our next meeting will be on Thursday 4th December at 11:30.
Coming up
Can you spare an hour a week to change a young person’s life?
Following the success of our school mentoring programme, working with MCR Pathways we’re rolling this important initiative out to four more secondary schools across Argyll and Bute. They include Tobermory High, Lochgilphead High, Campbeltown Grammar and Tarbert Academy. Could you become a volunteer mentor and help support young people most in need to build their confidence, ambition and create a positive future by sparing just one hour a week?
You don’t need any special skills or prior experience with young people. All you need is commitment, empathy and determination to make a positive impact to help young people believe in themselves and their abilities.
Some of our colleagues are already mentors at Oban High, Rothesay Academy and Dunoon Grammar and we’ll feature their stories in next month’s Cascade.
Your help can make a huge difference.
Congratulations
Well done to everyone who popped along to the Macmillan coffee morning at the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre last week. The event organised by the Catering and Cleaning Team raised a fantastic £762.50!
Claire Brabender, Operations Officer Cleaning and Catering thanked all those involved:
“Thanks to everyone for your support. It means the world to us. Fundraising is never easy, it takes heart, grit and a whole lot of teamwork. I’m proud of my team for showing up with such dedication and compassion.
“MacMillan is a charity that’s deeply personal to me. I lost my hero four years ago, and while the ache never truly fades, days like today remind me that we’re never alone in our grief. We carry our loved ones with us — in memory, in purpose, and in moments like this. 
“Many of us here have seen firsthand the incredible work Macmillan does and your support is really appreciated.
“I also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the local businesses who responded to our calls for support. Your generosity and kindness deserve to be recognised — you’ve helped make today possible, and we’re truly grateful. So once again, thank you. Here’s to Macmillan — and to the strength we find in community.”
Out and about
Focus on the Digital Hub at An Cridhe Community Centre, Coll
This month, Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director – Development and Infrastructure, was out and about and almost made it to Coll… travelling with Moya Ingram, Strategic Transportation and Infrastructure Manager, Iain MacInnes, Strategic Transportation Policy Officer, Jon Ireland, Station Manager at Oban and the isles airports, Luke Horner, Graduate Digital Liaison Officer and Katie McKenzie, Directorate Support Officer, the plan was to go to Coll to visit An Cridhe Community Centre and Coll Airport (where Moya was due to carry out an inspection of the runway which is required from the UK Civil Aviation Authority). However, the rib that the group was travelling on experienced engine failure in rough waters so had to limp back to Tobermory to be fixed. A rather dramatic start to the day but thankfully the sun shone for the group’s sail home (as you can see in the picture).
The plan was to visit the Digital Hub in An Cridhe Community Centre for a demonstration of the new equipment, before meeting with the Community Council.
In 2022 Strategic Transportation secured £100,000 from the Scottish Government’s Island Infrastructure Fund to install four island Digital Hubs – the islands selected were Islay, Iona, Tiree and Coll. In An Cridhe a large mobile interactive screen incorporating audio visual equipment was installed at the reception. A smaller audio-visual system was installed in a smaller meeting room, which also doubles up as an NHS ‘Near Me’ clinic to allow for virtual consultations. The main hall was provided with a large collapsable screen and a state of the art fully portable sound system which can be used for larger hybrid meetings and cinema nights or virtual events/lectures, a fantastic addition to the island.
Let’s hope the group have a more successful journey next time! ,
Connect for Success
The Link – our employee sounding board
As you might remember, earlier this year we launched The Link, our council-wide employee sounding board that brings together people from roles and locations that represent the diversity of our workplace. Every other month the group get together to discuss topics that are put forward by you – perhaps a new plan you’re working on, an idea you have or something that needs a bit more exploration and discussion to help it come to life. Our sounding board is there for you to make the most of and we’re now looking at planning our topics for 2026.
Take a look at the info here and find out how you can put your topic forward.
And a huge thanks to our members for their involvement so far this year.
Newsflashes from September
Training and useful resources
Mandatory training reports for managers
Managers – did you know that you can run reports on LEON to check that all your team members are up to date with their mandatory training?
To run the report, log into LEON, select the report tab and find the “My team mandatory training report” or simply click on the link below.
Do you have a burning MS 365 question – our digital champions are here to help
Did you know we have fifty-seven digital champions who can help you and your team answer any Microsoft 365 questions you may have? They can also offer lots of helpful tips on how to make the most from 365, whether you’re just getting started and navigating your way around the apps or if you’ve been using it for a while and have a burning question. They may not know the answers to every question but will know exactly who to ask to find out for you.
Our champions are also available if you think your team could benefit from a beginner’s guide to 365. They’re happy to come along to a team meeting to give colleagues a basic overview of how to get started and what helps them in their role.
There are champions for every service. You can find out who your champion is. Get in touch, they would love to hear from you.
Don’t forget you can also find lots of help on find 365 help on MyCouncilWorks. Here you’ll see links to the Skills Hub, lots of guidance and an overview of how the different 365 apps aim to make everyday work easier.
If you’re interested in becoming a digital champion, please contact the training centre for more information.