A trip of a lifetime nearly ended in tragedy for Jonny Hunt. He had almost completed a 6,000-mile cycle ride through South America during a career break when he veered off a cliff in Chile and plunged 30ft. He broke his back and pelvis and was 150 miles from the nearest town.

Once rescued, Hunt phoned a colleague at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the firm’s global network swung into action.

Senior staff from the Santiago office visited Hunt and arranged for his bike and equipment to be retrieved. On his return home, he was in hospital for two months and PwC ensured he received the best medical treatment.

A grateful Hunt said: “The support confirmed to me that this is where I wanted to be.”

Related Internet Links

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• PricewaterhouseCoopers's entry in 2007

• PricewaterhouseCoopers' entry in 2006

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

Our survey backs up his sentiment. Employees feel their job is secure, giving the firm a 74% positive score, believe profit and budget concerns are not the only things driving the organisation (56%) and feel the firm is run on strong values and principles (73%), all top 10 scores nationally.

“This firm is brilliant when something goes wrong,” says Moira Elms, board partner for marketing and communication. “People shouldn’t think they can’t bring their private life into the business, that’s not realistic, it’s not human, and the company really goes out of its way to help.”

The company allows employees to devote six working days a year to community activities. Last year, about 25% of staff were involved in fundraising and volunteering, committing 37,000 working hours to charities and local communities. Activities include a charity pantomime that has been a traditional fundraising event for more than 20 years.

Employees say the organisation’s support of worthy causes is not motivated by a desire for good publicity (54%), another top 10 score. They also feel the company gives a lot back to the local community (59%), works hard to protect the environment (65%) and makes a positive difference to the world (60%).

More than half of the workforce earn more than £35,000 a year and the firm’s flexible benefits scheme includes private medical cover for all staff and their families, dental insurance and extra holidays. Maternity and paternity leave are also above the statutory minimum. Employees say they are happy with their pay and benefits (63%), the seventh best score, and feel they are paid fairly for the work they do relative to others within their firm (60%), a score bettered by just three other companies.

Staff give an 81% positive score for their job being good for personal growth (a top five ranking), and 74% of employees say training is of great benefit to them, which is bettered by just one other company. People also feel the work is stimulating (72%).

PricewaterhouseCoopers invests heavily in learning and training. Its development framework has six key principles — training, variety, coaching, regular feedback, self-awareness and cycles of experience. Cycles can include joining a new team, an office transfer or an overseas secondment.

Other examples of key training and development programmes include a PwC diploma, run in conjunction with the London Business School, and an emerging leaders programme for high-performing managers.

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