Lindum lifers are not a rare breed. Take 65-year-old Dick Hudson who has been with Lindum Group for 31 years and still works two days a week even though he officially retired last year.

“I tell the youngsters, you’re well looked after here. I have been approached with far larger pay packages and have said no, I’m not interested,” he says. Neither are his colleagues, it seems, with more than 50% of the firm’s staff having been with the organisation for more than five years.

Hudson says he never asked for a pay rise. He believes that promotion came as a result of the management recognising hard work and respecting staff. He also cites communication as the cement that has kept him bound to Lindum. “Every director is respected because if we have a problem we pull together and sort it out,” he says.

According to employee survey results, his colleagues agree. They say the senior management team listens, giving them a 75% positive score for this question, and are confident in the senior team’s leadership skills (85%). They agree that their own managers regularly express appreciation (79%), talk openly and honestly with them (83%) and believe that colleagues go out of their way to help one another (80%).

Founded by John Chambers in 1956 with just four employees, the Lincoln-based firm today operates nationwide and has a turnover of £87m.

Despite its size the company maintains a family feel. It is divided into 11 trading divisions, all of which report to David Chambers, the chairman and the founder’s youngest son. “The only way an expanding construction company can work is if you decentralise,” Chambers says. “Groupwise, we get together often and still see ourselves as quite small, even though we have nearly 500 employees.”

Lindum Group has seen considerable improvement since last year, when it was 13th on our list. The firm has top 10 national rankings in four of our eight factors including Leadership, Personal Growth and Giving Something Back, and this year won our special award for engaging with schools and colleges.

At 78% positive, Wellbeing is still its best factor score nationally, with just one other firm higher. Employees are happy with the balance between work and home (78%), are not under too much pressure (83%) and have not had stress-related symptoms in the past 12 months (88%).

Lindum has a culture of sharing information and its leaders believe “the best argument should always win — irrespective of who makes it”.

“The management structure is very flat, there is not a lot of distance between an operative on site and the chairman,” says training co-ordinator Carla Round. Staff say managers care about them as individuals (80%) and are supportive (81%).

“This is a close-knit organisation with fathers and sons working here. My dad works here,” says Round. “I don’t think David would tolerate a bully and bullies wouldn’t get away with it on a social level.” Employees find Chambers inspiring (80%), and believe the organisation is run on strong values and principles (82%).

As far as the recession is concerned, Lindum has kept profit within the organisation and, as a result, it is in a strong position, says Chambers. The workforce owns 25% of the company and everyone receives profit-related pay. But “it’s not about the money, it’s about the job,” Chambers says. “People have the right to enjoy their job because, if they do, they will do it well.”

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