Warwickshire News Mine

Now in its sixth year, the event, held at the Best Western Weston Hall Hotel in Bulkington on Wednesday 5th December 2007, celebrated the achievement of organisations who have adopted exceptional work-life balance policies and practices.

Merle Bayliss from Warwickshire County Council, who organised the Employer of Choice Awards and who also works with employers to develop their work-life balance policies, said:

“This annual event continues to give us a chance to celebrate the success of organisations which really understand the importance to the success of their business – particularly in the long term - of offering a range of flexible working opportunities and other benefits to their staff.

“Work-life balance is now high on the agenda for many employers as a way of working that gives staff the freedom to pursue activities and responsibilities outside work without impinging on work responsibilities and productivity. 

"The Employer of Choice Awards reward all size of business in Warwickshire as part of the County Council’s initiative to raise the profile of Work-Life Balance policies - from small companies that employ less than 10 people up to corporate companies employing many thousands of employees. This year we’ve received great entries from many organisations who have not taken part in this event before – and the competition gets hotter.

“Previous winners are regarded as a top employer in the county which can make it easier to recruit and retain the staff they need.”

All Winners of the awards are included within a Profiles booklet, released after the awards ceremony, which details all policies and practices winning businesses have, and acts as a guide for any other employers looking to adopt work-life balance into their business.

Winners from this year are:

Small Employer Award eXtracare, Harborough Magna
Medium Employer Award Bright Kids, Studley
Large Employer Award ConocoPhillips Ltd, Warwick
Corporate Employer Award Domestic & General Services Ltd, Bedworth

Special Achievement Awards went to Alumet Systems (UK) Ltd, & Olive Catering Services. Further Highly Commended awards went to Rock & Water Ltd and Rangemaster based in Leamington Spa.

The awards are supported by EQUAL, ‘Adjust the Balance’ Development Partnership, which aims to influence work-life balance policies throughout the region and set an example at a national and international level.

Chair of Warwickshire County Council Councillor John Wells presented the awards, while Amanda Wright, lead on Work-Life Balance for West Midlands Quality Centre, was guest speaker.  The master of ceremonies for the evening was John Deegan, Director of the Environment & Economy Directorate for Warwickshire County Council.

John Deegan said: “The awards are really going from strength to strength and this year is even more competitive than last year. It’s a real pleasure to see the excellent practices winning businesses have adopted and how they help business profitability as well as the workforce”

For further details on the awards, including winning policies and practices that the top businesses in Warwickshire use, see http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/eoc or contact Merle Bayliss, Work Life Balance Advisor on 01926 412738.

Link to WCC