Job title: Operations manager
Company: Divine Chocolate
Sales: £10.4m
HQ: Gainsford Street, London
Number of employees: 17
What's it like to work for your company? It's a small team, which means none of the big company structure. Each person feels directly responsible for growing the company and we're all really motivated by the farmer-owned business model.
Why is it a good employer? There's a good team spirit and a flexibility around working styles. The salaries aren't big company salaries, but there is a pension contribution and incredible variety in what we get involved in.
What's the best thing about working there? Knowing it's a completely different business model and it's working. Proving business can be different is exciting. And then there's a lot of really good chocolate.
Does the company offer any unusual benefits? There is always the potential to go to Ghana to see cocoa harvesting first-hand, and how our owners, the Kuapa Kokoo farmers' co-operative, runs its organisation.
How does the company differ from its rivals? It is owned by cocoa farmers, who get the lion's share of any distributable profits. They are on our board and have their own voice in the industry. No individuals are making big money out of Divine.
Is there a definable company culture? Committed, passionate, creative everyone is very sure why they are here.
If the company were a car what would it be and why? It would have good looks, be a real joy to use, and have space for lots of people, with a low environmental impact.
What training do you offer? Divine is happy to fund extra training if relevant and useful to the company. There is an annual allowance for this.
Has the company won any awards? Divine has not been entered into any employer awards but won Social Enterprise of the year in 2007 and Observer Ethical Business Award 2008.
What's your proudest achievement of the past 12 months? We were all very proud to see Kuapa Kokoo elect its first woman president a real testament to all the work they've done empowering women.
Are you looking for people right now? We've got two vacancies one for a commercial director, which is a new position. We're after someone who's really experienced in the fmcg commercial environment. We're also looking for maternity cover for our operations manager a chance to manage our supply chain from farmer to retailer.
What tips would you offer jobseekers? We're looking for experience, energy, ideas and an appetite to do something different.
How do I find out more about the company? Our website and check us out on Facebook and Twitter.
Are you working on anything exciting now? We're the official chocolate bar at Glastonbury this year we're excited about that! We've got new products in the pipeline and we're starting to plan for this year's Chocolate Week in October.
Company: Divine Chocolate
Sales: £10.4m
HQ: Gainsford Street, London
Number of employees: 17
What's it like to work for your company? It's a small team, which means none of the big company structure. Each person feels directly responsible for growing the company and we're all really motivated by the farmer-owned business model.
Why is it a good employer? There's a good team spirit and a flexibility around working styles. The salaries aren't big company salaries, but there is a pension contribution and incredible variety in what we get involved in.
What's the best thing about working there? Knowing it's a completely different business model and it's working. Proving business can be different is exciting. And then there's a lot of really good chocolate.
Does the company offer any unusual benefits? There is always the potential to go to Ghana to see cocoa harvesting first-hand, and how our owners, the Kuapa Kokoo farmers' co-operative, runs its organisation.
How does the company differ from its rivals? It is owned by cocoa farmers, who get the lion's share of any distributable profits. They are on our board and have their own voice in the industry. No individuals are making big money out of Divine.
Is there a definable company culture? Committed, passionate, creative everyone is very sure why they are here.
If the company were a car what would it be and why? It would have good looks, be a real joy to use, and have space for lots of people, with a low environmental impact.
What training do you offer? Divine is happy to fund extra training if relevant and useful to the company. There is an annual allowance for this.
Has the company won any awards? Divine has not been entered into any employer awards but won Social Enterprise of the year in 2007 and Observer Ethical Business Award 2008.
What's your proudest achievement of the past 12 months? We were all very proud to see Kuapa Kokoo elect its first woman president a real testament to all the work they've done empowering women.
Are you looking for people right now? We've got two vacancies one for a commercial director, which is a new position. We're after someone who's really experienced in the fmcg commercial environment. We're also looking for maternity cover for our operations manager a chance to manage our supply chain from farmer to retailer.
What tips would you offer jobseekers? We're looking for experience, energy, ideas and an appetite to do something different.
How do I find out more about the company? Our website and check us out on Facebook and Twitter.
Are you working on anything exciting now? We're the official chocolate bar at Glastonbury this year we're excited about that! We've got new products in the pipeline and we're starting to plan for this year's Chocolate Week in October.
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