Working Abroad with Purpose
Most people have felt a sense of dread when management announces a “new initiative” to solve a business problem. However, one Belfast firm’s approach shows what can happen when employer and employee interests align around innovation.
Earlier this year, JMK Solicitors, Northern Ireland’s No. 1 personal injury law firm, introduced remote working with a real difference. Almost half of its 55-strong team relocated 3,000 miles to the Canary Islands with a clear mission in mind.
Investing in People
Jonathan McKeown, Chair of JMK Solicitors, explains that developing and investing in people is the company’s key priority.
“Companies which gain a reputation for encouraging good working practices combined with a genuine and healthy work-life balance are attractive. They also tend to enjoy higher employee retention rates, more loyalty, and better in-house expertise,” he says.
“At JMK Solicitors, we value our staff and the contribution they make and with their full support and encouragement, we wanted to go a step further to make further improvements that would work for everyone”.
Planning the Project
Jonathan adds: ‘As we have grown as an organisation the ability to attract, engage and retain staff who will provide the best service to clients is the most important activity of the Directors. What we want to do is to always be thinking about how we can provide as enjoyable a working environment as possible whilst at the same time not forgetting that we are running a business that must be efficient and avoid waste. There is a cliché that business owners should spend time working ‘on’ their business rather than ‘in’ it. However, what we wanted to do, was incentivise our staff to come up with their own ideas to improve their working practices and help cut costs”.
Inspired by a company in America that relocated staff from Boston to Rio de Janeiro for a month, Jonathan proposed a similar idea. The challenge was to have the team plan the project entirely—logistics, IT, and even finding 50% of the travel and accommodation costs through innovation and efficiency.
The mission was aligned with the company’s core values and required learning, improving, and analysing work behaviours.
Team Execution
“It was hugely rewarding to work outside our usual roles on such an exciting project,” says Una O’Neill, a project team member.
The Core Value Project team, which did not include directors, funded the project through cost and efficiency savings. They reviewed supplier contracts, replaced printed briefs with electronic documents, and invested in Microsoft Surface Pro tablets to reduce paper usage. Every efficiency added to the savings, contributing directly to the project.
Experiencing Lanzarote
Over 20 staff members, plus 10 partners and children, flew to Lanzarote for the winter sun. Carmel Ross, Solicitor, noted:
“These days your office is wherever you are. I held productive video calls with clients, covering all issues faster without commuting or waiting.”
Managing Director Maurece Hutchinson adds: “Both the ‘home’ team in Northern Ireland and the ‘away’ team in Lanzarote benefited. Working in a new environment and with different team members strengthened collaboration and camaraderie.”
Productivity and Client Service
The project lasted a month, with staff rotating between home and abroad. Team members could work flexible hours to enjoy the island while remaining focused on work.
Despite the unique setup, client service remained seamless. A linked phone app allowed calls to route back to Northern Ireland, laptops and phones were used effectively, and their paperless case management system, Proclaim, ensured clients experienced no disruption.
Efficiency and Sustainability
“By reducing paper, ink, and printing, the project has been cost-effective and environmentally friendly,” says Maurece.
The initiative continues to deliver benefits, showing how JMK Solicitors can innovate while maintaining excellent client service and nurturing a positive workplace culture.
Northern Ireland’s number 1 personal injury experts can help you.
Established over 20 years and ranking as NI’s Number 1 Personal Injury Solicitors for over a decade, JMK Solicitors assist clients all over Northern Ireland. If you have suffered a personal injury, been in a car accident, or had an accident at work, contact our team for a free consultation.
Call us today on 028 9032 0222 or email us law@jmksolicitors.com
