We’ve recently written about the four winners of awards and accreditations at 2021 Best Employers (Big C, Treatt, Becketts and Future You). Now we’d like to tell you about the other industry award winners.

Who won?

• Best hospitality and retail, and gold accreditation: Holkham Estate.
• Best digital and technology, and platinum accreditation: Tiger Eye Consulting.
• Best business and professional services, and platinum accreditation: PolicyBee.
• Best not-for-profit: Centre 33.
• Best manufacturing, and silver accreditation: Thurne.
• Best healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and gold accreditation: IPRS Group.

Here’s some more information on each of the winners, and details of why they won.

Holkham Estate: best hospitality and retail, and gold accreditation

About the organisation

The Holkham Estate is on the north-Norfolk coast. It’s a private 25,000-acre agricultural estate that also includes a holiday park, several shops, property development and an internationally acclaimed inn. They employ up to 300 people in the peak season. Holkham’s ambition is to become the UK’s most pioneering and sustainable rural estate.

Why did they win?

The judges were very complimentary about the way the Holkham Estate let the voices of their own employees tell the story about what it’s like to work there. It was clear to them that Holkham’s teams are passionate about making the estate a Best Employer, and that they take pride in their work and their brand. The judges were particularly impressed with Holkham’s imaginative ‘lockdown learning’ programme, their Go See and Go Help initiatives, and their fundraising efforts (including delivering 600 meals a week to NHS staff during the pandemic).

Tiger Eye Consulting: Best digital and technology, and platinum accreditation

About the organisation

Tiger Eye provide high-quality IT advice, support and solutions to the legal, property, finance and media sectors. They’re specialists in managing documents, emails and knowledge, helping professional services firms work with data more efficiently. They pride themselves on their team’s technical knowledge and exceptional customer service, delivering software solutions, custom development services, technical support, training and more.

Why did they win?

The judges were particularly impressed with the learning and development activities in Tiger Eye’s submission, especially their four-day working week trial, where employees use the fifth day for rest or learning. This helps make sure their people are always at the top of their game, and that the company remains a leading technical partner within their industry. The judges described this as a bold move and applauded Tiger Eye’s commitment to trying new approaches.

PolicyBee: Best business and professional services, and platinum accreditation

About the organisation

PolicyBee is an independent digital insurance broker. They use technology to make insurance easy for their customers – freelancers, sole traders, small businesses and charities – and their employees. Their marketing ethos is to ‘keep it human’.

Why did they win?

The judges felt that Policybee’s submission showed the importance they place on investing in developing their employees. They were also impressed by the attention the company pays to the wellbeing of their people, and that they do this by listening to their teams, not just by providing an outsourced service.

Centre 33: best not-for-profit

About the organisation

Centre 33 has been helping young people in Cambridgeshire for 40 years. They offer free, confidential and professional support with mental and sexual health issues, caring responsibilities, housing and more, all in a non-judgemental and welcoming setting.

Why did they win?

Centre 33 won their award based on their exceptional results in the employee engagement survey.

Thurne: best manufacturing, and silver accreditation

About the organisation

Thurne produces precision-engineered industrial slicing equipment for bacon, cooked meats and cheese, and has 50 years’ of experience in this industry. Headquartered in Norwich, they’ve been part of the Middleby Corporation since 2015, and have around 97 employees.

Why did they win?

The judges singled out Thurne’s strong leadership, which focuses on open communication and personal development. They were also impressed with how they monitor, review and update their succession plan to support growth, and pointed out how this has clearly contributed to the longevity of the organisation.

IPRS Group: best healthcare and pharmaceuticals, and gold accreditation

About the organisation

IPRS Group is an award-winning independent specialist organisation offering clinical products and services across the UK. Founded in 1995, the group is made up of four subsidiaries: IPRS Health, IPRS Mediquipe, IPRS Aeromed and PFAS. Their overriding purpose is to help people get better, with each organisation contributing to that in their own unique way – but always following the philosophy of ‘right clinician, first time, every time’.

Why did they win?

The judges were impressed by how much IPRS Group genuinely value their 200-strong workforce, which was clear from the way their employers are driven to help people. The judges also pointed out IPRS Group’s commitment to employee engagement, for example through their reward and recognition programme, great communication, corporate social responsibility and wellbeing initiatives. They also commented on the way Thurne’s systems and processes are aligned to give their employees a great experience at work, with an emphasis on learning and development. And finally, they mentioned the great strides the company’s made in diversity and inclusion, bringing in tools to help them become a truly inclusive employer, where everyone feels they belong.

What’s Best Employers?

Founded by Pure and psychometrics experts eras Ltd in 2012, Best Employers aims to help businesses develop engaging, inspiring and inclusive workplaces that bring out the best in their people. Organisations ask their employees to fill in a confidential survey that measures engagement, culture and values. The ones with the highest scores are then eligible for an award (based on their survey scores alone) and accreditation (platinum, gold or silver, based on their survey scores and extra evidence which our judges review). What makes Best Employers’ awards particularly special is that companies are judged by the people who know them best – their own employees.

To find out more about Best Employers Eastern Region and to register your interest in our 2023 programme visit www.best-employers.co.uk