When a box arrived at the Belper branch of Britannia Building Society addressed to savings and investment adviser Diane Dove, she was disappointed as it felt empty. But when she opened it, a red star-shaped balloon floated out, notifying her she had been nominated for employee of the year. The awards ceremony was held three months later at Stoke City football club’s Britannia stadium. “ I felt like a star,” says Dove. “People held doors open for me and gave me champagne. I was star-struck by it all.”

Dove isn’t alone in feeling special. Staff say they love working for Britannia and give a 75% positive score in our survey, ranking the company second for this question.

Britannia has made a real impact this year, ranking an impressive second in our list after moving up from the mid-sized company list as staff numbers crept over the 5,000 mark.

Dove’s award as employee of the year is evidence that hard work at Britannia doesn’t go unnoticed. She had been working extra hours because a colleague was on maternity leave. Employees say managers express appreciation when they do a good job, the 77% score ranking the company first for this question. They also say that colleagues go out of their way to help each other (79%, again beating every other big firm).

Related Internet Links

• Company website

• Britannia'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

• Best Small Companies to Work For 2008

• Highlights from the awards ceremony

A top score of 70% for the Wellbeing factor shows that work doesn’t take its toll. Staff don’t feel stressed because of work (78%) and are happy with the balance between their work and home life, giving another top score of 73%.

When Debbie Smith, a strategy manager, began at Britannia on a consultancy basis, she was working for herself. She was offered a job at the head office in Staffordshire, but was reluctant to give up her four-day working week. Nor did she want to move from Wolverhampton.

She suggested working a 35-hour week over four days. “They said, ‘Fine, let’s give it a go,’ and that was four years ago,” says Smith. Employees say work doesn’t interfere with their responsibilities at home, giving a top score of 74%, nor is their health suffering (80%).

Richard Denning, assistant to group chief executive Neville Richardson, joined Britannia straight from university and is clear about what attracted him. “I wanted to go somewhere that had development opportunities, that stood out from day one,” he says. His colleagues agree that the job is good for their personal growth (78%) and say the training is of great benefit (70%).

When he started four years ago, Denning was on Britannia’s fast-track management programme, tailored to his needs, and he now has one-to-one coaching with the chief executive every week. Denning isn’t alone in finding Richardson, winner of our special award for leadership, inspiring, with a 74% score for this question. Employees know senior managers truly live the values of the organisation (75%) and say they really listen to them (68%). They agree that managers care about their job satisfaction (75%).

Staff suggestions in the twice-yearly feedback survey are taken seriously. Another top rank for the Giving Something Back factor (66%) comes thanks to changes resulting from such comments.

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