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.
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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
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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).
