Best Company to Work For Winner: Ella’s Kitchen
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Jo Wilby (centre) and Clare Archibald (2nd right), Ella's Kitchen, collected the award from Simon Winfield (right), Hays
With skills shortages, recruitment and employee retention on most Thames Valley business agendas this was an important and much valued title.
There were six companies shortlisted for this award, all having impressed the judges with successful workplace cultures and tremendous employee engagement:
CV-Library: Employing 130 people, CV-Library describes itself as a ‘fantastically exciting place to work’. A great team spirit and open-door policy have contributed to very low staff turnover. The company expects everyone to take an hour for lunch, and to leave at 5.30pm. In fact, the offices are often locked at 6pm.
Ella’s Kitchen: This Henley-based organic baby food manufacturer, prides itself on a workplace culture that inspires all its 55 people. Its values are part of its everyday language and the company retains the passion of its founder, Paul Lindley, Ella’s dad.
Grant Thornton: is very much a Thames Valley success story, being formed in 1908 in Oxford as Thornton & Thornton. Today, Grant Thornton employs 40,000 people worldwide, engages with its employees through multiple channels, and constantly communicates its beliefs and values.
Peter Brett Associates: The Reading practice of engineers, planners, scientists and economists describes trust as its core value. Teams work collaboratively and each employee is “valued as an individual“. PBA helps its employees enjoy good work-life balance by offering flexible working, including from home, and term-time contracts.
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Premier Group Recruitment: Founded 15 years ago, this Reading company says it makes work “fun“, employs 81 people, has strong values, and provides clear progression paths for employees. Everyone enters as a trainee and works their way up. The office has a pool table, punchbag, fresh fruit deliveries and fully-stocked bar.
Ridgeway: This fast-growing Thames Valley motor dealership has a projected turnover of over £700 million this year and employs 1,250 people. It prides itself on being a family business and staff wellbeing is a key priority.
Simon Winfield, South West and Wales managing director of Hays, assisted by Huw Edwards, announced the judges’ award-allocating decisions.
Third-placed was Grant Thornton, runner-up was Peter Brett Associates and finally, coming up with the overall workplace recipe for success, was Ella’s Kitchen. All the other finalists received Highly Commended certificates.
The judges commented: “Ella’s Kitchen values are living and breathing as you step into their offices: ‘We Think Differently’, ‘Want to Win’, are ‘Business Minded’, ‘Childlike’ and ‘Good to Each Other’.
“The unique formula of an ethos which truly incorporates the happiness, well-being, development and work-life balance of their employees at the heart of the business, combined with highly successful growth and profits makes this company The Best Company to Work For.
“Employees we spoke to were highly motivated and genuinely loved working for the company. A massive 24% of the employees work part-time, which highlights how committed they are to families. Although all our top three are great companies to work for, we felt this company was simply furthest along the road with its journey to being a great place to work.”
Interviewed after the award presentation Clare Archibald, official title 'makes people happy’ (HR manager) at Ella’s Kitchen, said: “This means so much because it is the first award we have won for our working environment. We have won several awards for our products but this one really associates with the amazing people we have working in Henley.“
Fun, variety, interest and involvement were key to the Ella’s Kitchen winning workplace, she suggested. “Everyone contributes to our culture every single day and we empower everyone to do that.”
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – DECEMBER 15/JANUARY 16
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