The freedom to think as an individual, a unique sense of purpose and a true sense of being in a team are just three of the reasons why employees at pharmaceuticals company Roche believe they have the best jobs in the world.
A global employer of around 100,000 people, 2,000 of them based in the UK, Roche is at the leading edge of new developments in medical treatments, creating an exciting and rewarding working environment, while its famous philosophy of putting purpose before profits has helped it to attract and retain top talent for many years.
“Health is something that affects us all one way or another,” says head of talent acquisition Andrew Armes. “At Roche, our entire portfolio of activities is focused on pushing the boundaries and the science in areas where currently there are no treatments, where people have no hope. And in therapy areas where there are current treatments, our goal is to bring about a true step change.”
The impact of this on Roche employees is twofold: they have great opportunities to create and innovate, and a real sense of connection with the patients who benefit from the end result.
“People come to work here to be the best version of themselves that they possibly can be,” says Armes. “If you’re trying to do that, you can’t rest on your laurels or copy everybody else – you’ve got to push the boundaries. And people love the fact that that’s what Roche does. It’s very clear that, as a philosophy, we are only interested in making a difference.
“Our people also feel very connected to the patient, because they know that the things they are working on will, for example, improve people’s end-of-life care, which improves the time they can have with their family. That encourages people to do their best work, as it will positively impact people’s lives.”
To facilitate all of this, Roche has created a working environment and a culture in which people can apply their brilliance, and create and innovate at their best – and, more importantly, co-create and collaborate with colleagues without restrictions.
Head of procurement Justin Lambert is passionate about people and working for a company that has people and patients at its heart. “It fulfils me on a daily basis,” he says. “No matter what the role, everyone in Roche works tirelessly to help patients, both now and in the future.”
Key to the company’s market-leading position in pharmaceuticals innovation is the fact that it is the largest investor in R&D in the pharmaceuticals industry, and the seventh-largest investor in R&D in the world.
And, as Armes explains, Roche innovates as much in its people processes as it does in the science they create. “Innovation runs throughout the organisation, reaching people working in over 100 countries,” he says. “We are a very large organisation, but wherever you are in the world that philosophy remains constant.”
As an expat living in the UK, franchise lead at Roche, Brigitte Nolet, says she is proud and privileged to work for a company that truly supports career development and progression. “I am here to ensure that I can continue to expand my professional development, and the UK team has been extraordinary in making me and my family feel welcomed and supported,” she says
Underpinning the company’s success in achieving Top Employer UK accreditation and its recognition as place where people love to work, are its three core values: passion, integrity and courage.
“We put a great deal of thought into the people we recruit and promote in this organisation and our values are absolutely key to that,” explains Armes. “Passion is something that we all have for our work. Integrity underpins the desire and the ability that everyone has to bring their whole selves to work, while their courage enables them to push boundaries, make mistakes, and be the best they can be. These are wonderful values to share in the workspace. People really enjoy working with their colleagues wherever they are because of those values.”
Summing up the pride and passion she feels when she walks into her office every day, Emma Chandisingh, head of centre of excellence – product strategy, says: “At Roche, I feel I can make a difference and that my contribution is valued and recognised. I also get to work with some amazing people. We all bring the best out in each other and are striving to make the difference to our patients’ lives.”
