Sefiani client Firstfolio Limited was recently commended for its innovative Connect-Share-Thrive employee engagement program at the prestigious Australian HR Awards 2011. The program won the ‘best HR strategic plan’ award ahead of major multinational and government organisations.

Firstfolio (ASX: FFF) is a specialist mortgage and financial services company, with a diversified distribution network and Australia’s leading online mortgage platform, eChoice.

Sefiani, in conjunction with Firstfolio’s General Manager for HR, developed the award-winning submission that articulated the concept behind the program and the successful implementation throughout the organisation.

At a gala dinner at the Hilton in Sydney, Firstfolio, an organisation of 147 people, was selected as the winner from a field of some the biggest and brightest organisations from Australian and around the world, including Johnson & Johnson, Clayton Utz, IBM, Telstra and Foxtel to name a few.

Connect-Share-Thrive was developed to foster a common, shared culture across Firstfolio following a rapid period of growth.  Since 2007, Firstfolio has completed 10 acquisitions nationwide, resulting in 76% growth in the group’s loan portfolio to more than $20 billion.

While Firstfolio has seen enormous financial and market success in recent years, its workforce faced challenges when integrating employees from acquired organisations at risk of being siloed. Connect-Share-Thrive is a grassroots, employee-driven program designed specifically to overcome these issues.

Firstfolio has seen a 9% decrease in voluntary turnover across all staff, and an 11% decrease in voluntary turnover of staff who joined the business via acquisition.

General Manager Human Resources Linda Cooper said: “We’re extremely honoured to receive this award and are committed to working with our staff to ensure their needs and aspirations are met as we achieve what is best for our clients and our investors,” she said.