IDEA Consult recently published its first Impact Report, an honest look at where the organisation stands on sustainability, both in the work delivered for clients and in how it runs internally. Over the coming months, reflections from the report’s chapters will be shared, starting with “Walking the Talk,” a section focused on our people.
What our employee survey tells us
Every year, colleagues are invited to share how they’re doing through an anonymous employee survey. The picture that comes back is one of real strengths: people value the flexibility offered, feel engaged and motivated, find their work meaningful, and know they can count on their team.
The survey doesn’t only surface what’s going well. Work-life balance came out as a real challenge, and feedback culture could be stronger. Our team’s commitment to quality is one of IDEA’s greatest strengths, but it also makes balance harder to protect. There’s no quick fix, but there are concrete things to work on: clearer roles, stronger leadership, and more open dialogue.
Fair pay & growth
The gender pay gap was measured for the first time, using the Eurostat methodology. The unadjusted figure came out at +8.76% in favour of men. In four out of five job categories, women earn the same or more than men — the overall gap is driven by women being over-represented in entry-level roles and men in Expert positions. It’s a baseline to build on, with an adjusted analysis planned for next year.
Learning and development were looked at too. Training is actively encouraged at IDEA, and while there’s a real culture of continuous development, there’s also room to invest more in it, more consistently, across the team.
New tools to support our people
2025 was a year of deliberate investment in how IDEA supports its people. Talent development got a more structured approach, an internal AI assistant was launched to make HR information easier to find, a buddy system was formalised so new colleagues feel welcome from day one, and the first steps were taken to roll out a fairer, more consistent mobility plan.
Culture from the bottom up
Some of what makes IDEA feel like IDEA comes from colleagues themselves. The FUN team organises activities throughout the year to help people connect and welcome new colleagues into the fold.
The latest example: an after-work neighbourhood walk. The IDEA offices sit on the border between Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, the Freedom Quarter and the European Quarter. In August, colleagues put together a walk through the neighbourhood, stopping to learn about the area’s history, architecture and a few hidden corners.
Where we go from here
Looking ahead, the plan includes steps around leadership and trust, talent development, learning, and HR governance. This is the spirit behind the first Impact Report: not a finished story, but work in progress.
Curious about the full picture? Discover the complete sustainability story on our here.