A Day in the Life at Delt Shared Services: Culture, People & What Makes It Different

A Day in the Life at Delt Shared Services: Culture, People & What Makes It Different

Go behind the scenes at one of the UK's Most Loved Workplaces® — where public purpose meets genuine people-first culture.

May 31, 2026 4 min read
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Key Takeaways

  • Delt Shared Services is a Certified Most Loved Workplace® 2025, recognised for its people-first culture.
  • Founded by Plymouth City Council and NHS Devon Integrated Care Board, Delt exists to serve the public interest — not to maximise profit.
  • Hybrid working, flexible hours, monthly 1-on-1s, and a nationally unprecedented trade union agreement give every employee a real voice.
  • Senior leadership — including the CEO — sits amongst the team, with no private offices and a genuine open-door culture.

What is it like to work at Delt Shared Services?

Working at Delt Shared Services means showing up every day knowing your work truly matters. Delt supports over 250 organisations across 400 sites, handling the back-office functions that let nurses, teachers, and firefighters focus on what they do best. The atmosphere is collaborative, purposeful, and genuinely supportive — words that come up again and again in how the team describes their experience.

What does a typical day look like at Delt?

No two days are quite the same, but there are rhythms that make working at Delt feel grounded. You might start the morning from home, catching up on emails and joining a team stand-up. Mid-morning could involve problem-solving with colleagues across IT, HR, or finance. The afternoon might bring a monthly 1-on-1 with your manager — a real conversation, not a tick-box exercise.

The culture DNA at Delt is built around three core behaviours: Communication, Collaboration, and Cooperation. These aren't slogans on a wall. They shape how teams interact, how decisions get made, and how challenges get solved — quickly and collectively.

Does Delt Shared Services offer flexible or remote working?

Yes. Delt offers hybrid working arrangements as standard, along with flexible and compressed working hours. Whether you need to handle school pick-ups, caring responsibilities, or simply prefer to structure your day differently, Delt actively supports a life-centric approach. Work integrates around your life — not the other way around.

What is the leadership culture like at Delt?

One of the most distinctive things about Delt is how leadership operates. CEO Giles Letheren — recipient of the Institute of Directors Director of the Year award in 2019 — has no private office. When on site, he sits among the teams. Every new starter gets a personal 1-on-1 session with him during induction, not to talk about job roles, but to understand who they are as people.

Senior leaders at Delt openly share their own mistakes and lessons learned. This honest, vulnerable approach creates a psychologically safe environment where everyone — at every level — feels comfortable speaking up. It's a culture where ideas from the frontline are genuinely heard.

How does Delt support employee wellbeing and mental health?

Delt's commitment to wellbeing is built into its structure, not bolted on. Comprehensive health coverage, mental health counselling services, occupational health support, and regular wellbeing check-ins are all part of the package. The culture of openness means conversations about mental health are normalised — vulnerability is met with support, not silence.

How does Delt Shared Services support career growth?

Continuous learning is woven into everyday life at Delt. Employees have access to training and skill development programmes, leadership development initiatives, tuition reimbursement, and a rich library of learning resources. Uniquely, 50% of each employee's performance assessment is based on values — not just output. Every team member, from new joiners to senior leaders, has a personal stop-start-continue development plan.

This is a place where growth is expected, encouraged, and invested in.

What makes Delt's workplace culture unique?

Delt holds a Certified Most Loved Workplaces® 2025 badge — a verified recognition of how deeply the organisation values its people. But what truly sets Delt apart is its governance model. In 2018, Delt signed a nationally unprecedented agreement with three trade unions, ensuring every employee has a voice — union member or not. A Staff Non-Executive Director, elected by the workforce and serving a three-year term, sits on the Board of Directors.

This is not window dressing. It is structural, meaningful employee representation at the highest level.

Interview tips: How to stand out when applying to Delt

Delt weaves its values into the entire recruitment process. Here's how to put your best foot forward:

  • Know the values. Delt's values were created by staff, for staff. Research them and think about how your own working style aligns.
  • Show genuine purpose. Delt exists to serve the public interest. Candidates who connect with that mission stand out immediately.
  • Demonstrate collaboration. Come prepared with real examples of how you've worked with others to solve problems or deliver outcomes.
  • Be yourself. The CEO meets every new starter as a person first. Authenticity is valued far above corporate polish.

Ready to be part of something that genuinely matters? Apply for Senior Cloud Engineer at Delt Shared Services or explore all open roles on the Delt careers page.