Santander, one of Portugal's leading banking institutions, understands the importance of nurturing a motivated and engaged workforce.
To foster employee growth and contribute towards social inclusion, Santander sought a solution that would not only engage their employees but also promote cross-cultural communication within the organization and contribute to social good.
Key Results
378 learning hours facilitated for migrants and refugees
134 participants attended language groups
21 language groups led by Santander employees
Contributing To Social Good and Cultivating a Collaborative Workforce
Santander identified the need to create a more inclusive and cohesive work environment encouraging open communication and collaboration among employees. Their goal was to enable team members from various departments to come together, build relationships based on understanding and appreciation of different cultures, and create an impact on a vertical that aligned with their organisation’s goals.
Enabling Employee Engagement through SPEAK's Platform
Santander took part in SPEAK Enterprise program to allow their employees in Lisbon and Porto to lead language groups. These groups primarily consisted of migrants and refugees, including Ukrainian refugees, seeking to learn Portuguese to help them integrate into the country. The program embraced both online and in-person sessions, with the in-person groups held in Lisbon.
SPEAK's user-friendly platform facilitated seamless engagement, connecting native speakers among Santander's employees with learners from diverse linguistic backgrounds. As language group buddies, Santander employees guided the participants through the language exchange sessions, fostering cross-cultural understanding and creating a welcoming environment for all.
Results
134 Learners Impacted: Santander's employees enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to lead language groups for migrants and refugees, with 134 learners actively participating in the language exchange program.
378 Hours of Language Learning Experience: The language groups led by Santander employees facilitated an impressive total of 378 hours of language learning experience. This extensive engagement contributed to building stronger bonds among employees across different departments and levels within the organization.
21 Groups Led by Employees: Santander saw remarkable participation from its workforce, as 21 language groups were formed and led by employees. Group participants consisted of refugees and migrants from various backgrounds who were seeking to integrate into Portugal.
The collaboration with SPEAK has been a transformative experience for our organization. Our employees wholeheartedly embraced the language learning program, and the profound impact on team dynamics and communication has been truly remarkable. SPEAK's platform facilitated seamless engagement, surpassing our expectations and delivering outstanding results. We express our gratitude for this valuable partnership, as it has brought unique opportunities for our employees and positively influenced our company as a whole.
Conclusion
Through the partnership with SPEAK, Santander demonstrated its dedication to promoting employee engagement, cross-cultural understanding, and social impact within its workforce. By fostering an environment of inclusivity, Santander empowered its employees and reinforced its position as an industry leader that is committed to its workforce's personal growth and social good.
