Celebrating life’s biggest moments with Grand Event leave

At Grandir UK, we know that some moments only happen once in a lifetime. Whether it’s walking down the aisle, collecting the keys to your first home, climbing Mount Everest, or celebrating another major life milestone, these are the experiences that stay with us forever. That’s why we introduced the Grand Event benefit – giving eligible employees up to one week of additional paid leave to celebrate a significant life event without using their annual leave entitlement.

As part of our employee benefits programme, the Grand Event reflects our commitment to employee well-being, work-life balance and creating a good benefits package that supports our teams both inside and outside of work.

Recently, two members of our Marketing team used their Grand Event leave for very different, but equally memorable occasions.

Jess’s Grand Event: A wedding to remember

For Events & Local Marketing Executive Jess, the Grand Event gave her the opportunity to fully enjoy one of the biggest milestones in her life – her wedding day!

Rather than using annual leave alone to manage the preparations, celebrations, and precious moments surrounding the day, Jess was able to take additional paid leave dedicated to the occasion. This meant she could step away from work completely and focus on what truly mattered in the lead-up to, and aftermath of, her wedding.

Reflecting on her experience, Jess shared just how meaningful it was to feel supported at such an important time in her life:

“Using this benefit made me feel like Grandir UK really appreciates people’s milestones in life. For any career that you’re in, work-life balance is important, and I felt supported during this milestone.”

Having that additional time away allowed Jess to be fully present, making memories with family and friends without the added pressure of work commitments during such a significant moment.

Her advice to colleagues considering using the benefit is simple: make sure you use the Grand Event; don’t forget it’s there for you.

Alanah’s Grand Event: Moving into her first home

For Social Media Executive Alanah, the Grand Event was used for another major milestone – moving into her first home.

Anyone who has bought a property knows that moving day is rarely just one day. Between the lengthy paperwork, collecting keys, unpacking boxes and settling into a new space, having dedicated time away from work can make a huge difference.

The additional leave allowed Alanah to focus on this exciting new chapter without the pressure of immediately returning to work or dipping into her holiday allowance.

Reflecting on her experience, she stated:

“Having this benefit made me feel really supported at Grandir UK, the business recognises that big life moments matter and they give people the time they need to really enjoy them.”

More than a standard benefits package

While many UK employers offer statutory benefits such as statutory sick pay, a workplace pension scheme and paid annual leave, we believe employee benefits should go further.

Alongside benefits such as flexible working options, a well-being day, retail discounts and access to a health cash plan through Medicash, the Grand Event demonstrates how flexible benefits can support employees during the moments that matter most.

These types of employee perks play an important role in employee engagement, employee satisfaction and helping organisations retain talent. They also show that employee well-being isn’t just about supporting challenges – it’s about celebrating successes too.

Supporting our people through every stage of life

The Grand Event was created to recognise the commitment and loyalty of our teams while giving them the flexibility to enjoy life’s biggest milestones.

Whether it’s getting married, moving home, graduating or taking part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience, we want our people to feel supported every step of the way. Because some moments deserve more than a standard day off.

If you’re inspired by how we support our people, look at our careers page to explore opportunities across our nurseries and Support Office teams. Join Grandir UK and reach new heights with us.