Employees can count on Cooper Parry to provide them with a stimulating career in a friendly working environment and still have enough time for a life outside work. Add to this competitive pay, a selection of flexible benefits and the freedom to get on with your job and you can see why the business services organisation is a winner with its workers. In fact, staff are so positive that the Derby-based company moves 12 places up the list this year.

It’s clear that Cooper Parry employees are more than just cogs in a wheel. The firm believes in treating staff as individuals and ensuring they are all given a voice in determining the direction and continued success of the company, a policy that is obviously paying off. Profitability at Cooper Parry has increased by almost a third in the past three years.

All new starters undergo a comprehensive induction programme and everyone is kept informed of company developments and successes through regular e-mail updates. Good communication is considered essential and once a year Jeremy Bowler, the chief executive, meets up with every team member and invites ideas and comments on how the company’s values can be developed. Further inhouse meetings promote a sharing of knowledge by getting team members together to learn about market and industry changes and initiatives.

Cooper Parry sponsors employees in gaining external qualifications and provides core skills workshops and a dedicated programme for line managers. The training pays off, with managers who are supportive and who care about their staff as individuals earning the company a 79% positive score on both points. People also say the job is good for their personal growth (80%).

Related Internet Links

• Company website

• Cooper Parry's entry in 2007

Turning up the Heat pays off

Strong training and a sense that work is to be enjoyed add up to Heat powering past its rivals into top spot this year

BACKGROUND

• Hats off to great leadership

• Getting the message across loud and clear

• Fly high with the X Factor

• Why it pays to know what you’re doing

BACKGROUND

• Charity wins top small company award

• Special awards for best practice

• Rules of engagement

• 100 Best SME's to work for 2008

Multimedia

• Highlights from the awards ceremony

Teamwork and respect for each other at every level are company values and foster good relationships among staff. Employees have fun (84%), go out of their way to help each other (82%) and care a lot about one another (85%).

To encourage team building the company holds monthly dress-down days and social evenings to raise money for its designated charity. Events include the single largest corporate relay race in the UK, the Cooper Parry Corporate Challenge, which has raised £120,000 for charity since it began in 2003.

The organisation has an environmental group, which is helping the business to reduce its impact on the environment and become more energy efficient. Staff rank Cooper Parry 11th, with a positive score of 79%, for its efforts to protect the environment.

Alternative working arrangements and home working reflect the fact that the business believes employees have the right to a fulfilling life outside work. Its volunteering policy gives people paid time off to do something for their own satisfaction and for the benefit of others.

Employees, a third of whom have been with the company for at least five years, say their health is not suffering because of work (82%) and the experience they are getting is valuable for their future (81%).

Benefits include childcare vouchers, dental insurance, critical illness cover, discounted services and a non-contributory pension. A job at Cooper Parry comes strongly recommended, with a positive score of 82%.

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