NW accounts for almost a quarter of UK’s best companies to work for

From left: Eve Gardner (Travel Counsellors), Glenn Dimelow (Best Companies), David Purcell (Travel Counsellors)

Almost a quarter of the best companies to work for throughout the UK are in the North West region.

The 2020 Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For listing has been published, featuring 21 companies from the region, including eight new entries.

Companies were judged on a range of benchmarks, including how staff feel about the head of the company and its senior managers, how they feel about the stress, pressure and the balance between their work and home duties, how much companies are thought by their staff to put back into society generally and the local community, and how happy the workforce is with their pay and benefits.

The list is compiled by Best Companies, the workplace engagement specialist.

Top of the pile this year was London marketing company MVF, which shot straight in to first position.

But the North West region was well represented across a variety of sectors, from law, to IT and communications, holiday homes, and football club, Everton FC, which employs 489 staff and improved its ranking from 71st last year to 60th this year.

Among the new entrants was Manchester travel franchiser, Travel Counsellors, which claimed 89th slot. The firm employs 328 staff and boasts a turnover of £262.2m.

Steve Byrne, chief executive at Travel Counsellors said: “We’re delighted to be listed in the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For 2020, achieving a two-star accreditation thanks to the feedback provided by our support teams.

“This accolade is a credit to the brilliant people who support our corporate and leisure Travel Counsellors to run their businesses in the best ways possible, and show care to their customers every single day.

“This is an important milestone as we continue to invest in developing and supporting the talent we have across the Travel Counsellors community over the next 12 months and beyond.”

Best Companies founder and CEO, Jonathan Austin, said: “I would like to congratulate Travel Counsellors on achieving a two star accreditation and being named as one of the UK’s Best Companies to Work for.

“Best Companies has been acknowledging excellence in the workplace since 2006 when we launched our Michelin-style accreditation standard.

“We are proud to work with organisations like Travel Counsellors who focus on their people, and as such have been rewarded with an engaged workforce who tell us that they’re a best company to work for.”

The North West contingent in this year’s listings:

Chess, telecoms reseller, Alderley Edge, sixth (12th in 2019).
Beaverbrooks the Jewellers, Lytham St Annes, ninth (10).
Verdant Leisure, holiday park operator, Lancaster, 13 (New).
AJ Bell, financial services, Manchester, 23 (28).
Curtins, engineering & planning consultancy, Liverpool, 28 (41).
Citation, business services, Wilmslow, 29 (New).
The New World Trading Co, pubs & restaurants, Knutsford 30 (fifth).
JMW Solicitors, Manchester, 33 (21).
ANS Group, IT & communications, Manchester, 41 (27).
PHMG, audio branding agency, Manchester, 49 (New).
Nedbank Private Wealth, financial services, Douglas IoM, 56 (67).
Hilti (GB), tools, fixings and fastenings, Manchester, 57 (35).
Peel L&P, property management, Manchester, 58 (79).
Everton FC, football club, Liverpool, 60 (71).
Zen, internet provider, Rochdale, 66 (New).
Sykes Cottages, holiday home rental, Chester, 68 (80).
Gap Personnel, recruitment, Wrexham 69 (New).
Brabners, law firm, Liverpool, 70 (New).
Mission Mars, food & entertainment, Manchester, 73 (New).
Travel Counsellors, travel franchiser, Manchester, 89 (New).
Edam, car accident services, Manchester, 97 (69).

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