Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Careers in HRPersonnel TodayThe HR profession

Best Places to Work in HR 2008: the shortlist

by Personnel Today 28 Aug 2008
by Personnel Today 28 Aug 2008

Last year’s inaugural Best Places to Work in HR Awards looked as though it was going to be a tough act to follow, but 2008 looks set to be even bigger and better with hundreds of organisations taking part.


The awards, in association with search and selection firm Courtenay HR, are geared towards giving the UK’s best HR departments a chance to show just how fantastic they are to potential and existing employees. Participating companies are rated by the HR professionals who work in them and their colleagues.


They are the only awards to focus specifically on HR teams rather than employers as a whole, and to be judged exclusively by the people who work in them.


They aim to recognise the invaluable contribution that hard-working HR teams make to a business.


More than 1,000 HR professionals from a range of companies completed the survey, and more than 100 organisations achieved the qualifying completion rate (the survey required at least 50% of the total number of HR employees in each team to complete the questionnaire).


The HR teams were given a score by their staff on a range of measures, including:




  • Leadership


  • Professional development


  • Employee engagement


  • Reward and recognition.

There will also be a star prize for the Overall Best Place to Work in HR.


Each of these scores reflected the importance of every category to employees, and contributed to a final score, which determined the overall results and produced the shortlists (see box, left).


Scores were automatically calculated, so there was no intervention from any other source – the HR staff were the only judges.


The winners will be revealed at a glitzy awards reception on 9 October at the famous Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on London’s South Bank. Scores and rankings will be e-mailed to all qualifying participants after the event.


A word from our sponsor


Gareth Jones, leader at Courtenay HR, says: “Is it that time of year already? It’s hard to believe that 12 months has passed since we first launched the awards and here we are again, about to celebrate the winners of the 2008 Best Places to Work in HR.


“Success breeds success, it seems, with many of last year’s entrants coming back for more, so a sincere thank you from me to all those organisations that have entered again. Without you, this year would not have been possible.


“Similarly, it’s also good to see some fresh names in this year’s shortlists, and I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all those that are new to the initiative, and wish them well in the fight for the top spot at the awards ceremony next month.


“Due to the high volume of entries from small, medium and large organisations, we have created specific categories for each, so we should see a better representation across the board.


“And if you don’t make the shortlist this year, there is always 2009. Best of luck, and I look forward to seeing everyone at the Globe Theatre in October.”


Best Places to Work in HR 2008 shortlist


Best Large HR Department (representing 1,000+ staff)




  • Admiral Group


  • British Gas Services


  • Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust


  • Syngenta


  • Sytner Group

Best Medium-Sized HR Department (500-999 staff)




  • Chubb Insurance Company of Europe


  • G4S Justice Services


  • Motability


  • Sweet & Maxwell Group


  • Wilts Wholesale Electrical Company

Best Small HR Department (up to 499 staff)




  • Broadway Homelessness and Support


  • Cattles Invoice Finance


  • Central Borders Housing


  • Prupim


  • Shepherds Bush Housing Group

Best HR Department for Leadership




  • Broadway Homelessness and Support


  • Europa Facility Services


  • Prupim


  • Shepherds Bush Housing Group


  • Wilts Wholesale Electrical Company

Best HR Department for Professional Development




  • Cabot Financial


  • Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA)


  • Shepherds Bush Housing Group


  • Starwood Central London Hotels


  • Wilts Wholesale Electrical Company

Best HR Department for Employee Engagement




  • Castle Morpeth Borough Council


  • Motability Operations


  • Starwood Central London Hotels


  • Wilts Wholesale Electrical Company


  • Prupim

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Best HR Department for Reward and Recognition




  • Aspire Defence Services


  • Castle Morpeth Borough Council


  • Motability Operations


  • Shepherds Bush Housing Group


  • Wilts Wholesale Electrical Company

(Shortlist made up of the highest scoring small, medium and large organisations in each category).

Personnel Today

Personnel Today articles are written by an expert team of award-winning journalists who have been covering HR and L&D for many years. Some of our content is attributed to "Personnel Today" for a number of reasons, including: when numerous authors are associated with writing or editing a piece; or when the author is unknown (particularly for older articles).

previous post
Analysis: Trades Union Congress agenda 2008
next post
Equality Bill prompts St John Ambulance recruitment policy overhaul

You may also like

Why HR burnout is a strategic issue

12 May 2025

CIPD appoints expert in AI to boost support...

8 May 2025

Stress for HR specialists greater at larger organisations

2 May 2025

CIPD: Employment Rights Bill timetable needs clarity

25 Apr 2025

Movers and shakers in HR: Stagecoach, Sodexo UK,...

11 Apr 2025

Senior HR pay rising faster than junior roles

28 Mar 2025

Employee Benefits Awards 2025 shortlist revealed

24 Mar 2025

What do HR specialists enjoy most about their...

21 Mar 2025

Law firm HR professional embroiled in ‘anti-Islam’ row

12 Mar 2025

Mitie appoints Kathryn Dolan as chief people officer

6 Mar 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+