Lord Mark Price tells us what inspired him to launch Engaging Works to help people find their ideal job.
What do you currently do?
I sit in the House of Lords, write and I’ve built Engaging Works, a digital platform, to help people get the most from their working lives. It measures, tracks and helps to improve people’s happiness at work. Offers career development advice, including free mentoring and matches people with their ideal jobs via free tests and help with CV writing. There’s also a business communications app to share ideas and ask for expert advice. I want to build an ethical department store for social media.
What was the inspiration behind your business?
I worked for the John Lewis Partnership for three decades, latterly as MD Waitrose and Deputy Chairman. I was then Minister of State for Trade and in both saw the need for, and benefit of, people having happier working lives. Businesses with engaged workforces report higher productivity, profits and earnings per share. And it’s good for society too.
Who do you admire?
My Father who set up his own small business and taught me all people are equal but with different skills and abilities which need to be nurtured. And Spedan Lewis the founder of the John Lewis Partnership who believed in a fairer way of doing business.
Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently?
Engaging Works is now a year old. We’ve had around ten thousand people take our workplace happiness survey and over seventy companies sign up to the business service. It’s a good start but I want to do more, much more. In the year ahead we’ll be developing our services and launching internationally too. I wish I could go quicker!
What defines your way of doing business?
I want to redefine social media as a positive tool to help people live happier and more fulfilled lives. I won’t share personal data with third parties, advertising with be limited or not there, and once complete I want the employees and users to own the platform.
What advice would you give to someone starting out?
Do something you love. If you use the phrase work/life balance, you have it wrong. Work should be enjoyable and a fulfilling part of your life.
