Making people’s lives better

“If you treat your sta well, they’ll treat your clients even better. The two go firmly hand-in-hand.”

Financial planning Investments Tax & estate planning

Gaynor RigbyManaging Partner, Equilibrium

www.equilibrium.co.uk0808 156 1191

A.NWI.02.20

People are a company’s greatest asset and that’s why an engaged workforce is the cornerstone of every successful business. Organisations that go the extra mile for their employees are a step closer to a highly motivated workforce, which can subsequently have a positive impact on profits and growth. Findings show that companies who have engagement levels high enough to achieve a place on the national Best Companies to Work For lists, consistently outperform the FTSE 100. Furthermore, employee engagement has a positive correlation with customer satisfaction suggesting the more highly engaged the workforce the greater the customer service they will deliver*.

Measuring engagementBest Companies work with organisations to measure and improve levels of workplace engagement. Through the b-Heard survey, they provide tools and expertise to empower organisations to understand how their employees feel, and give them guidance on how to drive effective change.Organisations are measured across eight factors of workplace engagement. Employees respond about a range of topics such as leadership, opportunities for personal growth, how they feel about their team and how happy they are with their pay and benefits. Those responding to the survey score statements on a seven-point scale, with all the responses from each region combined to create a Regional Best Companies Index (RBCI) score. We can see that nationally, scores for the Giving Something Back and Personal Growth

factors have improved this year. This suggests businesses are placing a greater emphasis on their social impact and the development of their employees.

Proud to be hereThe North West performs well in the ‘My Company’ factor with employees from organisations in this region believing they can make a valuable contribution to the success of their organisation (82%). The North West scored higher than the national average for this statement, suggesting they truly value the input of their workforce. Similarly, employees in this region feel their work is an important part of their life (78%) and they feel proud to work for their organisation (78%).

Sense of communityThis region also thinks highly of the people they work with. Respondents feel able to confide in their manager which is reciprocated by their manager talking openly and honestly with them. Employees in the North West also feel their team is fun to work with (77%), suggesting camaraderie remains strong amongst teams for the second year running. Charitable giving was high on the agenda, whether it be through staging fundraisers or giving something back through investing in the local community. Employees in the North West outperformed the national average for helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The results demonstrate the North West is a region that is supportive of its workers and enjoys giving back – an enviable mix that creates an environment where people and businesses can truly thrive.

Recognising the

Best in the North West

The 8 Factors of Workplace Engagement

The list of the Best Companies to Work For in the North West is compiled using the 8 Factor methodology.

My ManagerHow employees feel about and communicate with their direct manager

LeadershipHow employees feel about the head of the organisation, senior management and the organisation’s values and principles

My CompanyThe level of engagement employees feel with their job and organisation

Personal GrowthHow employees feel about training and their future prospects

My TeamEmployees’ feelings towards their immediate colleagues and how well they work together

WellbeingHow employees feel about stress, pressure at work and life balance

Fair DealHow happy employees are with pay and benefits

Giving Something BackThe extent to which employees feel their organisation has a positive impact on society

My Manager

Leadership

My Company

Personal Growth

My Team

Wellbeing

Fair Deal

Giving Something Back

We’re unveiling our annual list of the Best Companies to Work for in the North West, based on responses from those that matter the most – the employees.

Leading workplace engagement specialists Best Companies compiles the list every year to discover which companies are doing it right when it comes to their workforce. The companies on the list show they value their employees, enable them to have a say and allow a caring culture to spread beyond the walls of their premises through initiatives like charitable giving and supporting the community.

* Key Trends in Employee Engagement(Best Companies, 2020)

Measured and compiled by

BC output NW.indd 70 10/02/2020 13:18

Making people’s lives better

“If you treat your sta well, they’ll treat your clients even better. The two go firmly hand-in-hand.”

Financial planning Investments Tax & estate planning

Gaynor RigbyManaging Partner, Equilibrium

www.equilibrium.co.uk0808 156 1191

A.NWI.02.20

People are a company’s greatest asset and that’s why an engaged workforce is the cornerstone of every successful business. Organisations that go the extra mile for their employees are a step closer to a highly motivated workforce, which can subsequently have a positive impact on profits and growth. Findings show that companies who have engagement levels high enough to achieve a place on the national Best Companies to Work For lists, consistently outperform the FTSE 100. Furthermore, employee engagement has a positive correlation with customer satisfaction suggesting the more highly engaged the workforce the greater the customer service they will deliver*.

Measuring engagementBest Companies work with organisations to measure and improve levels of workplace engagement. Through the b-Heard survey, they provide tools and expertise to empower organisations to understand how their employees feel, and give them guidance on how to drive effective change.Organisations are measured across eight factors of workplace engagement. Employees respond about a range of topics such as leadership, opportunities for personal growth, how they feel about their team and how happy they are with their pay and benefits. Those responding to the survey score statements on a seven-point scale, with all the responses from each region combined to create a Regional Best Companies Index (RBCI) score. We can see that nationally, scores for the Giving Something Back and Personal Growth

factors have improved this year. This suggests businesses are placing a greater emphasis on their social impact and the development of their employees.

Proud to be hereThe North West performs well in the ‘My Company’ factor with employees from organisations in this region believing they can make a valuable contribution to the success of their organisation (82%). The North West scored higher than the national average for this statement, suggesting they truly value the input of their workforce. Similarly, employees in this region feel their work is an important part of their life (78%) and they feel proud to work for their organisation (78%).

Sense of communityThis region also thinks highly of the people they work with. Respondents feel able to confide in their manager which is reciprocated by their manager talking openly and honestly with them. Employees in the North West also feel their team is fun to work with (77%), suggesting camaraderie remains strong amongst teams for the second year running. Charitable giving was high on the agenda, whether it be through staging fundraisers or giving something back through investing in the local community. Employees in the North West outperformed the national average for helping people from disadvantaged backgrounds. The results demonstrate the North West is a region that is supportive of its workers and enjoys giving back – an enviable mix that creates an environment where people and businesses can truly thrive.

Recognising the

Best in the North West

The 8 Factors of Workplace Engagement

The list of the Best Companies to Work For in the North West is compiled using the 8 Factor methodology.

My ManagerHow employees feel about and communicate with their direct manager

LeadershipHow employees feel about the head of the organisation, senior management and the organisation’s values and principles

My CompanyThe level of engagement employees feel with their job and organisation

Personal GrowthHow employees feel about training and their future prospects

My TeamEmployees’ feelings towards their immediate colleagues and how well they work together

WellbeingHow employees feel about stress, pressure at work and life balance

Fair DealHow happy employees are with pay and benefits

Giving Something BackThe extent to which employees feel their organisation has a positive impact on society

My Manager

Leadership

My Company

Personal Growth

My Team

Wellbeing

Fair Deal

Giving Something Back

We’re unveiling our annual list of the Best Companies to Work for in the North West, based on responses from those that matter the most – the employees.

Leading workplace engagement specialists Best Companies compiles the list every year to discover which companies are doing it right when it comes to their workforce. The companies on the list show they value their employees, enable them to have a say and allow a caring culture to spread beyond the walls of their premises through initiatives like charitable giving and supporting the community.

* Key Trends in Employee Engagement (Best Companies, 2020)

Measured and compiled by

BC output NW.indd 71 10/02/2020 13:18

Bravissimo is top of the table for the third year running. The business aims to help women celebrate their figures and is an award-winning multi-channel retailer providing lingerie, swimwear and clothing for larger-breasted wearers.

There’s a positive working environment where people strive to be the best they can, with teams from right at the top constantly looking at where improvements can be made. Bravissimo scored highly for the Wellbeing factor, making time for one-to-ones every month to get to know people.

Their Learning and Development Manager is a qualified coach offering support and guidance to all managers, including those who have undergone the development programme. They will help their managers to identify and address their further learning needs, whether that involves further coaching/mentoring, the development of any bespoke courses, and learning materials for individuals or groups.

The customer-facing teams love to feel they are making a difference in helping shoppers change the way they see themselves and know they all play a part in changing the lives of thousands of women in the UK.

Cheshire-based Chess places emphasis on internal development and progression, flexibility and giving something back to the community. One of the UK’s leading telecoms, cyber security and ICT end-to-end solution providers, it helps more than 30,000 businesses grow through innovative technology and expert advice.

The organisation takes young people from the Prince’s Trust on work placements, which can turn into paid employment and a Carers Champions group supports those who have care responsibilities.

An eco team has enabled the business to increase the amount it recycles and encourage environmentally friendly activities, such as car sharing.

Equilibrium is an award-winning chartered wealth management company that offers a personalised financial planning and investment management service, giving clients confidence now and in the future.

Employees can carve their own career paths and are encouraged to gain qualifications to achieve their goals. They receive 33 days’ holiday plus bank holidays as a minimum, and breakfast is provided every day.

Each year, Equilibrium holds Team Person of the Year awards, voted for by all team members, with prizes and plaques on offer for the victors. There are also weekly updates from the managing partner and monthly briefings for the wider company, which contributed to a high score in the My Team section.

The UK’s largest life insurance broker, Reassured Ltd puts its growth and success down to the continuous efforts of its talented employees. The business specialises in arranging suitable life insurance and funeral plans to families across the country.

Founded in 2009, the business places huge importance on wellbeing, training managers to identify signs of stress and act appropriately.

There’s also an incentive scheme where employees who have exceeded their targets have the chance to win luxury trips around the world. The employee assistance programme, performance-related pay and share option scheme all contributed to them achieving a solid score for the Fair Deal factor.

1

2

4

3

5

National construction contractor Willmott Dixon is a new entry in the top five, climbing up from the sixth-place spot it took in 2019 to second place.

The 150-year-old business delivers building projects in education, leisure and culture, hotels, offices, custodial, health, retail, national frameworks and residential for government and local authorities.

Culture and family values are at the heart of the business and there are many long-standing employees, including the group chief executive, who keeps a keen interest in the lives of his staff and offers support during challenging times. The business scored highly in the Giving Something Back factor due to the green bonuses on offer to those choosing low emission vehicles. Its refer a friend incentive scheme also saw it show strength in the My Company section of the survey.

BC output NW.indd 72 10/02/2020 13:18

Bravissimo is top of the table for the third year running. The business aims to help women celebrate their figures and is an award-winning multi-channel retailer providing lingerie, swimwear and clothing for larger-breasted wearers.

There’s a positive working environment where people strive to be the best they can, with teams from right at the top constantly looking at where improvements can be made. Bravissimo scored highly for the Wellbeing factor, making time for one-to-ones every month to get to know people.

Their Learning and Development Manager is a qualified coach offering support and guidance to all managers, including those who have undergone the development programme. They will help their managers to identify and address their further learning needs, whether that involves further coaching/mentoring, the development of any bespoke courses, and learning materials for individuals or groups.

The customer-facing teams love to feel they are making a difference in helping shoppers change the way they see themselves and know they all play a part in changing the lives of thousands of women in the UK.

Cheshire-based Chess places emphasis on internal development and progression, flexibility and giving something back to the community. One of the UK’s leading telecoms, cyber security and ICT end-to-end solution providers, it helps more than 30,000 businesses grow through innovative technology and expert advice.

The organisation takes young people from the Prince’s Trust on work placements, which can turn into paid employment and a Carers Champions group supports those who have care responsibilities.

An eco team has enabled the business to increase the amount it recycles and encourage environmentally friendly activities, such as car sharing.

Equilibrium is an award-winning chartered wealth management company that offers a personalised financial planning and investment management service, giving clients confidence now and in the future.

Employees can carve their own career paths and are encouraged to gain qualifications to achieve their goals. They receive 33 days’ holiday plus bank holidays as a minimum, and breakfast is provided every day.

Each year, Equilibrium holds Team Person of the Year awards, voted for by all team members, with prizes and plaques on offer for the victors. There are also weekly updates from the managing partner and monthly briefings for the wider company, which contributed to a high score in the My Team section.

The UK’s largest life insurance broker, Reassured Ltd puts its growth and success down to the continuous efforts of its talented employees. The business specialises in arranging suitable life insurance and funeral plans to families across the country.

Founded in 2009, the business places huge importance on wellbeing, training managers to identify signs of stress and act appropriately.

There’s also an incentive scheme where employees who have exceeded their targets have the chance to win luxury trips around the world. The employee assistance programme, performance-related pay and share option scheme all contributed to them achieving a solid score for the Fair Deal factor.

1

2

4

3

5

National construction contractor Willmott Dixon is a new entry in the top five, climbing up from the sixth-place spot it took in 2019 to second place.

The 150-year-old business delivers building projects in education, leisure and culture, hotels, offices, custodial, health, retail, national frameworks and residential for government and local authorities.

Culture and family values are at the heart of the business and there are many long-standing employees, including the group chief executive, who keeps a keen interest in the lives of his staff and offers support during challenging times. The business scored highly in the Giving Something Back factor due to the green bonuses on offer to those choosing low emission vehicles. Its refer a friend incentive scheme also saw it show strength in the My Company section of the survey.

BC output NW.indd 73 10/02/2020 13:18

70

8

What is RBCI?The Regional Best Companies Index (RBCI) is the most academically rigorous way of measuring engagement. Using the Best Companies b-Heard Survey, employees are asked to score 70 questions on a 7 point scale from ‘Strongly Disagree’ to ‘Strongly Agree.’

The results are then calculated from the responses to 49 scoring questions aligned to the 8 Factors of Workplace Engagement. The final score is normalised for company size and calculated out of 1000.

1

2

3

5

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

8

6

7

4

Measured and compiled by

Bravissimo

Willmott Dixon Construction

Reassured Ltd

Equilibrium Asset Management LLP

Dishoom

Stockport Homes

Searchability

Citypress

Equinix , Equinix ervices, Equinix Enterprises

Curtins

Beaverbrooks

Hobbycraft

ITECCO

Golden Lane Housing

BT Consumer

Peak

SolutionsPT Ltd

Mills & Reeve

World Travel Holdings (UK) Ltd

AJ Bell

HSO

Hawksmoor

Pentagon Play

Oscar Technology

Chess

RBCI:

834.4RBCI:

833.7RBCI:

827.1

RBCI:

815.6

RBCI:

789.2RBCI:

786.3RBCI:

786.1RBCI:

779.9RBCI:

776.8RBCI:

770.0RBCI:

768.6RBCI:

767.3RBCI:

765.6RBCI:

764.0RBCI:

763.3RBCI:

762.1RBCI:

761.2RBCI:

757.2RBCI:

755.8RBCI:

754.9RBCI:

752.9

RBCI:

792.4

RBCI:

804.9RBCI:

804.5

RBCI:

818.6

BC output NW.indd 74 10/02/2020 13:18

70

8

What is RBCI?The Regional Best Companies Index (RBCI) is the most academically rigorous way of measuring engagement. Using the Best Companies b-Heard Survey, employees are asked to score 70 questions on a 7 point scale from ‘Strongly Disagree’ to ‘Strongly Agree.’

The results are then calculated from the responses to 49 scoring questions aligned to the 8 Factors of Workplace Engagement. The final score is normalised for company size and calculated out of 1000.

1

2

3

5

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

8

6

7

4

Measured and compiled by

Bravissimo

Willmott Dixon Construction

Reassured Ltd

Equilibrium Asset Management LLP

Dishoom

Stockport Homes

Searchability

Citypress

Equinix , Equinix ervices, Equinix Enterprises

Curtins

Beaverbrooks

Hobbycraft

ITECCO

Golden Lane Housing

BT Consumer

Peak

SolutionsPT Ltd

Mills & Reeve

World Travel Holdings (UK) Ltd

AJ Bell

HSO

Hawksmoor

Pentagon Play

Oscar Technology

Chess

RBCI:

834.4RBCI:

833.7RBCI:

827.1

RBCI:

815.6

RBCI:

789.2RBCI:

786.3RBCI:

786.1RBCI:

779.9RBCI:

776.8RBCI:

770.0RBCI:

768.6RBCI:

767.3RBCI:

765.6RBCI:

764.0RBCI:

763.3RBCI:

762.1RBCI:

761.2RBCI:

757.2RBCI:

755.8RBCI:

754.9RBCI:

752.9

RBCI:

792.4

RBCI:

804.9RBCI:

804.5

RBCI:

818.6

BC output NW.indd 75 10/02/2020 13:18

75%Employees feel their manager cares about them as an individual.

An average question score of

26

27

28

30

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

33

31

32

29

c off Construction Limited

Citation

New World Trading Company

IT Works Resource

Barnett Waddingham

Weaver Vale Housing Trust

BiU

Car enefit Solutions Limited

AFG LAW

FGH Security

ANS Group

Regenda Homes

PHMG

The Entertainer

Home Instead Senior Care UK Ltd

AND Digital

Arcadis UK

Shepherds Friendly

Sykes Holiday Cottages

Motorpoint

Hilti (Gt Britain) Ltd

YMCA Liverpool & Sefton

JMW Solicitors LLP

Hydrock

First Response Finance Ltd

RBCI:

749.7RBCI:

749.2RBCI:

748.7

RBCI:

747.5

RBCI:

738.3RBCI:

737.8RBCI:

735.6RBCI:

734.0RBCI:

733.9RBCI:

733.8RBCI:

733.5RBCI:

733.1RBCI:

729.5RBCI:

729.2RBCI:

726.1RBCI:

725.1RBCI:

722.9RBCI:

722.5RBCI:

721.2RBCI:

720.6RBCI:

719.5

RBCI:

739.2

RBCI:

743.2RBCI:

742.8

RBCI:

748.3

76%Employees feel they can tell their manager when work is going badly.

An average question score of

BC output NW.indd 76 10/02/2020 13:18

75%Employees feel their manager cares about them as an individual.

An average question score of

26

27

28

30

34

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

33

31

32

29

c off Construction Limited

Citation

New World Trading Company

IT Works Resource

Barnett Waddingham

Weaver Vale Housing Trust

BiU

Car enefit Solutions Limited

AFG LAW

FGH Security

ANS Group

Regenda Homes

PHMG

The Entertainer

Home Instead Senior Care UK Ltd

AND Digital

Arcadis UK

Shepherds Friendly

Sykes Holiday Cottages

Motorpoint

Hilti (Gt Britain) Ltd

YMCA Liverpool & Sefton

JMW Solicitors LLP

Hydrock

First Response Finance Ltd

RBCI:

749.7RBCI:

749.2RBCI:

748.7

RBCI:

747.5

RBCI:

738.3RBCI:

737.8RBCI:

735.6RBCI:

734.0RBCI:

733.9RBCI:

733.8RBCI:

733.5RBCI:

733.1RBCI:

729.5RBCI:

729.2RBCI:

726.1RBCI:

725.1RBCI:

722.9RBCI:

722.5RBCI:

721.2RBCI:

720.6RBCI:

719.5

RBCI:

739.2

RBCI:

743.2RBCI:

742.8

RBCI:

748.3

76%Employees feel they can tell their manager when work is going badly.

An average question score of

BC output NW.indd 77 10/02/2020 13:18

Bionic Services Limited. Registered in England & Wales Registered No: 05949018 Registered company address: 4th Floor, The Minster Building, 21 Mincing Lane, London, EC3R 7AG.

bionic.co.uk

Our experts will match you with the right business energy, insurance, loan and telecoms providers and deals - in minutes. Find out more or start a quote at bionic.co.uk.

Your business essentials, sorted

We’re hiringWe have opportunities across the UK to join our high-energy team. Find out more at bionic.co.uk/careers

51

52

53

55

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

69

70

71

72

73

74

75

58

56

57

54

gap personnel

Pennington Choices Ltd

Everton Football Club

Zen

Harrison Drury & Co Ltd

Gamma

Bibby Financial Services

Brabners LLP

Marriott Hotels International Ltd

Openreach Ltd

Red and Blue Restaurants

Carrier

Bourne Leisure

Uniform

Travel Counsellors

Newhall

Sofology

Tata Consultancy Services Limited

Howdens

theworks.co.uk

S&G Response

The Big Life group

Creditfix

Mission Mars

Peel L&P

RBCI:

719.0RBCI:

717.8RBCI:

717.1

RBCI:

715.8

RBCI:

711.6RBCI:

711.4RBCI:

711.3RBCI:

711.2RBCI:

710.7RBCI:

709.7RBCI:

709.4RBCI:

709.4RBCI:

704.8RBCI:

702.1RBCI:

699.9RBCI:

696.4RBCI:

696.0RBCI:

694.9RBCI:

694.5RBCI:

694.0RBCI:

692.6

RBCI:

712.5

RBCI:

713.7RBCI:

712.6

RBCI:

716.2

an average factor score for My Company.

75%

Employees in the North West believe they can make a valuable contribution to the success of the organisation.

higher than the national average.

1%

BC output NW.indd 78 10/02/2020 13:18

bionic.co.uk

Our experts will match you with the right business energy, insurance, loan and telecoms providers and deals - in minutes. Find out more or start a quote at bionic.co.uk.

Your business essentials, sorted

We’re hiringWe have opportunities across the UK to join our high-energy team. Find out more at bionic.co.uk/careers

Bionic Financial Services Limited. Registered in England & Wales Registered No: 07548195 Registered company address: 4th Floor, The Minster Building, 21 Mincing Lane, London, EC3R 7AG Bionic Financial Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Think Business Loans is a trading name of Think Business Finance Limited, registered in England and Wales, company number 07115888. Registered o�ce address: The Minster Building, 21 Mincing Lane, 4th Floor, London, England, EC3R 7AG. Think Business Finance Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority 724300 and operate in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, ICO registration number Z2226484. As a mortgage is secured against your home or other property, it could be repossessed if you do not keep up the mortgage repayments. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Think Business Finance Limited act as a Commercial Finance Credit Broker and not a Lender