8 The Guardian | Saturday 23 March 2013 The Guardian | Saturday 23 March 2013 9

Britain’s top employers

Top employers Scotland Kelly Sands, PA to the

director of people services,
The Co-operative
North (started January 2010)
• Barchester Healthcare Ltd “I love my department – the
From pub chains to credit-card providers, here are Healthcare provider with a recently
launched business school for its staff.
people I work with are fantastic. Everyone’s
really enthusiastic and supportive, and there’s
the companies putting their employees to the fore • Heineken UK
Beer and cider business with a focus on
• AkzoNobel
Global paint and chemicals company
• McCann Manchester
Staff audits are carried out
a real feeling that we’re all in it together.”
employee development. offers international job opportunities. by the marketing agency to
• Lloyd’s Register • Bentley Motors Ltd spot talent.
BTE research criteria Risk management company with Luxury car company that runs a well- • Phones 4u
opportunities for overseas working. respected apprenticeship scheme. The phone seller has invested £10m
• Technip UK Ltd • Chiesi Ltd in staff training and development.
The companies – reviewed by Britain’s Top • Training and development – the initiatives Global services provider to the energy Pharmaceutical company which • Tribal
Employers, and audited by Grant Thornton – and programmes that help an employee to trade which promotes job mobility. employs more than 3,700 people. Education software firm which offers
have been scored on the following criteria: grow in their role. • Co-operative, The staff a creative environment.
• Career development – talent management, The UK’s largest mutual business has • Weightmans LLP
• Primary benefits – pay, pension, share succession planning and performance a strong staff-training programme. Law firm renowned for a strong work
options and other monetary benefits. management for the long term. • East Coast Mainline culture, leadership and sense of value.
• Secondary benefits –provision of non- • Culture management – the facilitation of Train operator that runs an employee
monetary benefits, such as leave allowance, social interaction, employee input, diversity reward and recognition scheme.
flexible working, recognition schemes and initiatives and social responsibility schemes
Brynn Zais,
wellbeing policies. that create a positive work environment.
Walkers
Stuart Mather, commercialisation
community relations change manager,
manager, Capital One Midlands PepsiCo
(started January 2000) (started October 2009)
London “Career progression “I feel empowered every day. I was
is brilliant. If I look at my CV and • Capital One Group one of the first women to do the
see the skills I have developed Credit card provider has its own business Strategies for Success programme
over the years, it’s incredible. university for staff. and it gave me the confidence and
• ?What If! • John Lewis Partnership If you want to take ownership • Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd support network to apply for my
Independent innovation business that taps Trusted high street brand where staff, or Tyre manufacturer runs a performance-
Tim Banham, of your career, they will really current position.”
into a company’s in-house creative talent. “partners”, famously co-own the business. management programme for staff.
group publisher, support that.”
• Avanade UK Ltd • Lloyd’s of London
Informa (started
• Eriks UK Ltd South
Business technology solutions company with World leader for specialist insurance with a Industrial service partnership firm with a
a focus on training and achieving goals. leadership programme for exceptional staff. August 2005) forward-thinking work environment. East
• Bureau Veritas • McDonald’s Restaurants Ltd “Hard work and • Phoenix Group
Global professional services company World’s largest quick-service restaurant chain achievement are recognised Life assurance consolidator offers leave for
offering a highly dynamic work environment. with an annual training budget of £30m. and rewarded in a really nice staff on professional study programmes. • AmicusHorizon Ltd • Orange Business Services UK
• Estée Lauder Companies • Sacker & Partners LLP way. They contribute to my • Rider Levett Bucknall UK Ltd Housing association has above Communication provider invests
Worth almost $9bn (£6bn) a year, the Law firm dealing solely in pension law with a Property and construction firm with average rate of staff retention. heavily in staff training.
tennis club membership and it’s
cosmetic giant retains a strong family culture. focus on longevity in clients and employees. 3,000 employees in a global alliance. ARM Ltd PepsiCo UK & Ireland
brilliant having a day off when • Saint-Gobain
• •
• Fidessa Plc • Saffery Champness Intellectual property company Drinks manufacturer encourages
you move house.” Innovative construction materials firm
Market-leading software company working Chartered accountants with a company ethos promotes employee collaboration. mentoring and job rotation.
across the financial market. based around personal service. prioritises staff training. • British American Tobacco • Quest Diagnostics Ltd
• Finmeccanica • Santander • Travis Perkins plc Tobacco group provides operational Diagnostic test firm’s staff are proud
Operating across high technology and focused Bank with more than 14,000 branches Building supplies firm runs a staff support for its suppliers. to work on life-changing products.
on training its youngest staff members. globally and varied career opportunities. rewards scheme to recognise excellence. • Camelot Group of Companies • Rentokil Initial plc
• HCL Technologies • Tata Consultancy Services Ltd • VSG National Lottery organiser gives staff Support service firm offers career
IT service provider operating an egalitarian, Technology giant offering employees Security provider offers employees the the chance to broaden their skill set. growth and graduate programmes.
“employees-first” management philosophy. exposure to a range of global markets. chance to work for blue-chip clients. • DHL Express • RM Education
• Homes For Haringey • Tate & Lyle Sugars Ltd Distribution business offers Education technology provider has
Council housing management organisation Iconic and heritage brand that embraces development opportunities for staff. developed a progressive staff culture.
with a strong focus on company culture. innovation and pioneering new technology. • Dimension Data • Roche Products Ltd
• Hydrogen International Ltd
Specialist recruitment company that is widely
• UniCredit
Leading commercial bank with international
South IT provider has graduate programmes Healthcare company promotes a
for those interested in management. culture of independent thought.
recognised for its training programmes. talent and leadership programmes. West • Federal Express Europe Inc • Samsung Electronics UK
• IG Group • ZenithOptimedia Group Matthew Elsdon, Express distribution firm prioritises Electronics company runs a global
Provider of online financial derivatives with Marketing and communications agency with food development employees’ career goals. scholarship scheme for staff.
opportunities for international secondments. graduate scheme and bespoke talent team. • RWE npower JD Wetherspoon plc SAP
manager, • •
• Informa Energy provider which sends six staff Pub owner champions career Software company promotes career
JD Wetherspoon
Multinational publisher and conference members on polar expeditions every year. development and internal promotion. development and learning.
company with 150 offices in 40 countries. • Sigma-Aldrich (UK) (started April 2000)
• JTI UK • Tesco
Life science company at the forefront of “They’ve been really keen to help me
Tobacco company runs a graduate Retailer has a solid reputation for
cutting-edge scientific development. develop. There’s a clearly defined programme with foreign placements. staff development.
• The UNITE Group plc and structured training programme, • KFC • Vauxhall Motors
Venya Wijegoonewardene, Provider of student accommodation and and if you work hard and push Fast-food business offers rapid Car manufacturer offers employees
planning executive, ZenithOptimedia committed to staff development. yourself, that’s recognised and career growth to its staff. mentoring and placement schemes.
(started June 2010) noticed at every stage.” • LeasePlan UK Ltd • Virtusa UK Ltd
“It’s really friendly, there’s no Fleet provider encourages a culture IT company encourages staff
of idea sharing among employees. collaboration and personal growth.
closed-door management and
• Lonza Biologics plc • Whitbread plc
everyone is open to ideas. I’m really excited about
Science and research firm gives staff Leisure firm runs a graduate scheme
working abroad for two weeks, hopefully in America, leadership and site-specific training. and invests heavily in training.
as part of the Live My Life exchange programme.”