United Welsh Housing Association in UK’s Top 5 Best Places to Work
United
Welsh housing association has been named the fifth best place to work in the
UK in the Financial Times 2004 ‘Best Workplaces’ Special Report published
today (Wednesday 28th April 2004).
United Welsh Housing Association (UWHA), which has offices in Cardiff and Caerphilly, is the only Welsh company to be listed in the top 5 places to work in the UK and is the first non profit organisation ever to achieve a place in the top 10.
The awards are a result of extensive research carried out by AccountAbility and Great Place to Work® Institute Europe, in conjunction with the Financial Times. Companies achieve a ranking based on employee responses to an on-line survey and the 50 highest scoring companies make it on to the list.
United Welsh was selected from more than 1,000 European companies who had been nominated by their employees. Responses to the survey demonstrated that they value the culture of trust created by United Welsh.
Representatives from United Welsh’s senior management team and Board attended the Best Workplaces Conference at Gainsborough Studios in London yesterday before going on to receive their award at a ceremony where all 50 best UK workplaces were recognised.
United Welsh has always prided itself on its approach to staff relations. It employs 120 staff at its Caerphilly and Cardiff offices, half of whom have worked for the organisation for over five years, and has introduced a variety of initiatives designed to make the organisation a desirable place to work.
United Welsh
was the first mainstream housing association in the UK to be chosen by the
DTI to implement a ‘Partnership at Work’ project which aims to modernise the
way staff work together and actively encourage staff to take charge of their
own decision making.
Recognised as an Investor in People, United Welsh prides itself on being one of the most family friendly organisations in Wales. Paternity leave was already in place months before the new legislation was enforced and the Association has broken new ground by introducing term-time contracts which allow parents to take leave of absence to care for children during school holidays.
Each member of staff also has an annual appraisal and personal development plan and a confidential staff survey is conducted each year.
United Welsh chief executive, Tony Whittaker, said he was absolutely delighted that the Association had been recognised as one of the UK’s top 50 workplaces.
“This is a tremendous achievement and we are all extremely proud. At United Welsh, we have always placed our people at the heart of our business and have an innovative people strategy which gives a clear commitment to developing positive employment relationships.
“We recognise that our success depends on the willing contribution and commitment of our staff and so are dedicated to supporting and empowering our employees wherever possible.”
Sue Phillips, a customer services advisor with United Welsh, said the staff had been celebrating since hearing the news.
“It is a great feeling to know that you work for one of the top 50 workplaces in the whole country. The open management culture at United Welsh helps to create a real team spirit and pleasant working environment and you really do get the feeling that the organisation wants us all to be happy in our work.”
Case study
Several of United Welsh’s employees have opted for homeworking, flexible start and finish times and term-time contracts.
Nia Roblin is a corporate services advisor with United Welsh and has two sons aged seven and ten. She now works four days a week, finishing at 3pm each day and not working during school holidays.
“When my eldest son started school we took the decision as a family that we wanted to be there when he got home from school, so a new job was created for me.
“Being able to finish early and not having to work during school holidays means we do not have any problems with childcare and makes for a much happier family life.”
Web site links:
Great Place to Work Institute
AccountAbility
Financial Times
(28th April 2004)