Congratulations go to Circle Housing Group, who won the Best Employer award at the coveted EDP Business Awards 2013, held on 7 November 2013 at The Norfolk Showground. More than 300 firms entered this year’s awards – a record number –with 36 finalists competing to win 12 categories. The category, sponsored by Pure Resourcing Solutions (Pure), was open to a broad range of local businesses that were judged on their success in motivating, inspiring and rewarding employees and creating a positive working environment.

Lynn Walters, Director of Pure who judged the category along with Dee Wilmott, HR Director of Archant said: “Congratulations to Circle Housing Group! We felt that this organisation above others had really transformed their culture over the past few years, integrating newly acquired business units, enabling them to retain a local focus but with a common set of values. The people we met were all really living the company value of ‘customers and people at the heart’ and they had the data to back up their transformation, moving employee satisfaction from 36% 10 years ago to well over 90% today”

She added: “As enthusiastic supporters of employee engagement Pure is proud to sponsor this new category of Best Employer and we are delighted to be part of recognising employer excellence in the region.”

Sam Lacey, Director of Engagement and Catherine Hodds, Group Director of HR of Norwich based Circle Housing Group, received the award at the gala event hosted by BBC Look East’s Stewart White.

Ms Lacey said: “Circle really understands the work/life balance. It is a brilliant place with people who care and we are really strong as a leadership team.”

Ms Hodds said: “The award means a lot to us; we work really hard in our communities.”

Pure would also like to congratulate the runners up Kinnerton and Mills and Reeves who were also outstanding in this category.

Sponsoring the Best Employer category is a natural fit for Pure - the business also works to identify and promote the best employers and encourages employee engagement in the East of England through its initiative Best Employers, Eastern Region (BEER), which was co founded with eras ltd and launched in 2012.