BEST COMPANY TO WORK FOR AWARD


SPONSORED HAYS BY Winner: Ultima Business Solutions


Familiar names including Phabrix, Norbar Torque Tools and last year’s winner Bottomline Technologies lined up as finalists for the Best Company To Work For Award, sponsored by Hays, recruiting experts worldwide.


This time however, it was Ultima Business Solutions which scooped the honours, to the evident delight of CEO Max McNeill (pictured with trophy) and his team who celebrated their win in style.


The award pays tribute to those businesses which make their organisation a great place to work and Ultima Business Solutions clearly succeeded, with the judges commenting: “The winning company amazed us with the passion that all of their employees showed. They have fantastic training programmes, excellent benefits, great incentive programmes and impressed us with the way that they had made links with local schools and colleges to recruit and then develop local people.”


There was, they said, an “overwhelming impression that people felt personal responsibility and pride in the success of the company”.


The judges also paid tribute to the fact that a “huge percentage” of staff had worked for the business for more than 10 years, moving around the organisation in order to progress their careers.


McNeill was presented with the award by Hilary Devey and Mark Sheldon, managing director (Home Counties) at Hays, and said afterwards: “To win the ‘Best Company To Work


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – DECEMBER 12/JANUARY 13


For’ in the Thames Valley is a great honour and a source of real pride for Ultima Business Solutions.


“I believe this award reflects the fact that the company, ever since its inception in 1990, has always identified and treated its employees as its most important assets. We have worked hard at creating an environment where all staff are recognised for their contributions in making Ultima such a successful company and equally an environment that allows everyone to fulfil their potential.


“Our policy from day one has been to promote from within and is reflected by the fact that a significant number of Ultima’s senior managers, account managers and consultants today are products of our academy programme. We genuinely believe Ultima is a true ‘equal opportunity’ employer where recruitment and advancement are based purely on merit and not on sex, age, religion or academic qualification.”


The company, which is based in Reading, was founded in 1990 and is now established as one of the UK’s leading IT solutions providers.


It


has grown from selling memory and computer hardware to offering a wide portfolio of products and services, and now employs 280 people.


Over the past 22 years it has grown steadily, reporting a profit every year, and is currently on track to achieve revenues of £80 million in this fiscal period.


Mark Sheldon commented: “From technology, www.businessmag.co.uk


service provision and manufacturing, to healthcare and charities, the fact we have thriving businesses in the Thames Valley was the overriding impression of the business awards.


“As a judge and sponsor, Hays met the 20 entrants in the Best Company To Work For award and was amazed by the high standards and passion offered by everyone to their organisation.


“On the evening of the dinner we were proud to be part of such a successful business community. The energy people showed to the awards ceremony and the winners I have not experienced at any other event. Congratulations to all the finalists. The future looks bright for business in the Thames Valley.”


Second place was awarded to 2011 winner Bottomline Technologies, provider of payment, invoice and document automation solutions, and third place was awarded jointly to Norbar Torque Tools and BDO, business advisers and accountants in the Thames Valley.


Highly commended certificates went to Phabrix from Thatcham and Oxford’s Retail Marketing Group.


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