Two North East companies have been named among the best places to work in the UK after receiving praise from their own staff.
Newcastle housing provider Home Group has been ranked 7th in the UK’s Best Workplaces while Northumbrian Water came in at 25th.
Both companies were listed in the ‘super large’ category of the 2020 Great Places to Work survey, which assesses companies with more than 1,000 employees on a range of factors.
Hotel group Hilton was named the top super large company to work for, with Liverpool construction firm The Sovini Group top ranked among large companies.
Home Group’s position makes it the top performing housing association in the UK.
Chief executive Mark Henderson said: “To be ranked in the top 10 for a third-year running is an achievement for which we should all be extremely proud.
“What makes this accolade extra special is that it doesn’t come from a judging panel, or a well written submission, it comes from our colleagues.
“I didn’t think I could be prouder to work with an amazing group of people. But this past year, living and working through such extremely challenging times, has proved me wrong.
“I’ve been blown away by the extraordinary lengths’ colleagues have gone to in-order-to support each other, and particularly our customers through the pandemic. They have put aside their concerns to ensure our customers and their communities have had the support they needed. I can’t thank them enough.”
Home Group is currently based in Gosforth but is working on a new HQ in Newcastle city centre. It provides housing and related services in the North East and further afield.
Northumbrian Water’s 25th place ranking follows a number of other recent awards, including being recognized as a Centre of Excellence for Wellbeing by the Great Place to Work Institute and being awarded Ambassador Status as part of the 2020 Better Health at Work Award assessment process.
CEO Heidi Mottram said: “Our employees are at the heart of everything we do and with 86% of our people giving us feedback on how they feel working here, this gives us lots of insight so we can continue to make our company a ‘great place to work’.
“Being recognised nationally as a top employer alongside other big names like Cisco and Hilton, is also a brilliant acknowledgement of the great company we are and that’s all down to the amazing people we have working here.
“Yesterday’s announcement feels even more special in the backdrop of Coronavirus and the challenges we’ve faced both at work and personally over the last 12 months.
"The one team approach I see every day across our business, providing our customers and communities with an unrivalled experience, whilst protecting our environment, is something that I think sets us apart from the rest and I’m enormously proud to work with such passionate and committed people.”
