When people are engaged with their role and the organisation they work for they are much more likely to be motivated and productive.

The proof is in the pudding. Best Companies, the leading workplace engagement specialists in the UK, have found that companies who have a high level of engagement, and achieve a place on the national Best Companies to Work For lists, consistently outperform the FTSE 100. Their data also shows a direct correlation between customer satisfaction and employee engagement*.

Measuring engagement

Best Companies work with organisations to identify and improve levels of engagement. Through the b-Heard survey, they provide tools and expertise to empower organisations to understand how their employees feel, and show them how to drive eff ective change.

Using a unique workplace engagement model, organisations are measured across eight factors. Survey participants respond to 70 statements on a seven-point scale, where all responses from each region are then combined and normalised to create a Regional Best Companies Index (RBCI) score.

Good places in hard times

The 2018 research reveals an overall decline in levels of engagement across private companies nationally. Employees certainly seem to be feeling the pinch, with the Best Companies Fair Deal factor, looking

at whether people feel fairly rewarded for the work they do, showing high declines from 2017. Not-for-profi t organisations have however fared better overall, seeing improvement in four engagement factors out of the eight measured.

The Midlands leads the way

More than 26,800 employees based in the Midlands participated in this year’s survey. 2018 looks set to be a promising year for the region, scoring higher than the national average in all eight engagement factors measured.

Employees feel that there is strong leadership in the region, with the Leadership factor scoring 75% (more than 4% higher than the national average). Personal Growth is also highlighted with a score of 73%, suggesting that there is ample opportunity for training and continued learning for employees in the Midlands.

Jonathan Austin, Founder and CEO of Best Companies, said: “It is great to see the region performing so well in all factors. With us recently launching the regional Best Companies to Work For lists, it is encouraging to see that more organisations are recognising the value of engagement and are willing to benchmark themselves against the best to ensure they are off ering their people the best possible experience.”

Celebrating the

Best of the Midlands

The 8 Factors of Workplace Engagement

The list of the Best Companies to Work For in the Midlands is compiled using the 8 Factor methodology.

My ManagerHow employees feel about and communicate with their direct manager

LeadershipHow employees feel about the head of the organisation, senior management and the organisation’s values and principles

My CompanyThe level of engagement employees feel with their job and organisation

Personal GrowthHow employees feel about training and their future prospects

My TeamEmployees’ feelings towards their immediate colleagues and how well they work together

WellbeingHow employees feel about stress, pressure at work and life balance

Fair DealHow happy employees are with pay and benefi ts

Giving Something BackThe extent to which employees feel their organisation has a positive impact on society

My Manager

Leadership

My Company

Personal Growth

My Team

Wellbeing

Fair Deal

Giving Something Back

Exclusive to Insider Media - the ‘Best Companies to Work For in the Midlands’ list recognises the organisations that are leading the fi eld in creating engaging and exciting workplaces.

CEOs and senior teams understand that now, more than ever, engaging their people is the most effective way to improve performance and keep and attract the best staff in challenging markets.

* Key Trends in Employee Engagement Summary Report 2018 – www.b.co.uk

Measured and compiled by

Churchill Retirement Living (CRL) are a privately-owned, family-run company specialising exclusively in developing purpose-built one and two-bedroom apartments for young at heart over 60s.

Their retirement developments throughout the UK are designed to provide the best lifestyle choice for an independent, safe, secure and fulfi lled retirement.

CRL now have more than 100 retirement developments across the UK, including a regional offi ce in Bromsgrove.

The Heroes scheme gives colleagues the opportunity to nominate each other for outstanding contributions to the company. The scheme has categories and each winner receives a £250 experience voucher and a chance to be named the overall Churchill Hero at the end of the year.

Oakman Inns & Restaurants have redefi ned the concept of the modern public house, off ering contemporary boutique accommodation, premium drink and casual dining experiences within the heart of their local communities.

Chief Executive Offi cer Peter Borg-Neal founded the fi rm in 2007, with the fi rst venture being The Akeman in Tring, Hertfordshire. There are now more than 20 Oakman Inns & Restaurants nationally, several of which double as hotels.

‘Oakmanology’ is the award-winning learning hub taking employees through craft and leadership development, using a mix of online micro-learning opportunities including fact sheets, quizzes, eLearning, videos and assessments.

Staff ord and Rural Homes are a social housing provider and the largest social landlord in Staff ord, managing over 6,000 homes in the area. They also off er shared ownership homes, a telecare personal security system and planned maintenance works.

Core company values include being approachable, respecting, empowering and supporting.

Communication is also key and in 2017 the organisation implemented a major digital business transformation project to boost engagement with customers and staff .

Charter Court Financial Services (CCFS) are one of the fastest growing specialist mortgage banks in the UK, purpose built to meet increasing customer demand for specialist mortgages, attractive savings products, exceptional value and great service.

Aims for CCFS include delivering sustainable, profi table growth by helping customers who are underserved by high street banks.

The Charter Champion Committee, run by individuals from each department, monitor brand principles throughout the organisation. Meeting monthly in an open forum, all Champions discuss successes and any obstacles the company faces.

Inzpire are experts in aviation and award-winning suppliers of defence managed services, training, and the cutting-edge GECO Mission System and EFB.

Today, Inzpire have 100 employees based in Lincolnshire. The founders decided that Inzpire would deliver on budget and on time, drawing on real-world experience that could translate into unbeatable service and products.

Inzpire are now the defence employer of choice for those retiring from the RAF, Army, Navy and Marines at the end of distinguished careers.

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What is RBCI?The Regional Best Companies Index (RBCI) is the most academically rigorous way of measuring engagement. Using the Best Companies b-Heard Survey, employees are asked to score 70 questions on a 7 point scale from ‘Strongly Disagree’ to ‘Strongly Agree’.

Organisations require 30 or more survey responses in a region to be eligible. The results are then calculated from the responses to 50 scoring questions aligned to the 8 Factors of Workplace Engagement. The final score is normalised for company size and calculated out of 1000.

1 Churchill Retirement Living

RBCI:

871.7

2 Oakman Inns & Restaurants

RBCI:

797.0

3 Charter Court Financial Services

RBCI:

790.6

5 Inzpire RBCI:

776.9

9 First Response FinanceRBCI:

770.5

10 Edmond Shipway LLPRBCI:

767.7

11 PKF Cooper ParryRBCI:

765.7

12 Lindum GroupRBCI:

762.7

13 Treetops Hospice CareRBCI:

760.5

14 CurtinsRBCI:

758.2

15 Croud IncRBCI:

750.5

16 Click TravelRBCI:

749.8

17 Royal College of Nursing

RBCI:

747.0

18 Explore LearningRBCI:

741.8

19 BravissimoRBCI:

741.2

20 Instarmac GroupRBCI:

739.9

21 Sytner GroupRBCI:

735.7

22 risualRBCI:

733.4

23 HIT TrainingRBCI:

730.4

24 Dudley Building Society

RBCI:

727.2

25 The Alchemist Bar & Restaurant

RBCI:

721.4

8 Bibby Financial Services

RBCI:

775.4

6 BeaverbrooksRBCI:

776.5

7 GymsharkRBCI:

776.0

4 Stafford and Rural Homes

RBCI:

784.4

Measured and compiled by

77%of people surveyed in the Midlands feel they work well with their team.

80%of people in the Midlands feel engaged with their job and with the organisation they work for.

An average of

An average of

26 Coventry Building Society

RBCI:

720.0

27 Peach PubsRBCI:

718.1

28 The Hanley Economic Building Society

RBCI:

718.1

30 Edenhouse Solutions RBCI:

716.7

34 Bristan Group RBCI:

713.9

35 The Kaleidoscope Plus Group

RBCI:

712.9

36 White Cross VetsRBCI:

712.9

37 FBC Manby BowdlerRBCI:

708.8

38 Stickyeyes GroupRBCI:

705.8

39 Babington GroupRBCI:

705.3

40 The EntertainerRBCI:

704.7

41 MotorpointRBCI:

701.6

42 HalfordsRBCI:

699.7

43 Phoebus SoftwareRBCI:

698.8

44 Rooftop Housing GroupRBCI:

695.1

45 Baylis (Gloucester)RBCI:

694.9

46 drpRBCI:

693.3

47 Sky Betting & GamingRBCI:

692.4

48 PureGymRBCI:

692.0

49 Build-A-Bear WorkshopRBCI:

691.4

50 Leonard Design Architects

RBCI:

689.0

33 Go ApeRBCI:

714.3

31 DeloitteRBCI:

715.2

32 Pythagoras Communications

RBCI:

714.4

29 BWB ConsultingRBCI:

717.8

4%higher than the national average for how employees feel about the leadership of their organisation.

#4region nationally for how employees feel about their pay and benefits.

51 SF GroupRBCI:

688.3

52 Savers Health and Beauty

RBCI:

687.4

53 Thorn Baker Recruitment

RBCI:

687.4

55 Barbon Insurance Group

RBCI:

686.4

59 sales-iRBCI:

682.9

60 Iceland FoodsRBCI:

682.2

61 SantanderRBCI:

682.1

62 English Institute of Sport

RBCI:

678.7

63 EYRBCI:

676.5

64 WarburtonsRBCI:

675.3

65 MSC Industrial SupplyRBCI:

675.3

66 Chartered Management Institute

RBCI:

674.8

67 ImperoRBCI:

672.5

68 Solid Solutions Management

RBCI:

667.9

69 AccentureRBCI:

667.5

70 Peter Brett AssociatesRBCI:

667.0

71 adi GroupRBCI:

665.6

72 Intelligent Office UKRBCI:

665.2

73 David Lloyd LeisureRBCI:

664.7

74 Swiftool Precision Engineering (SPE)

RBCI:

662.8

75 Talbots LawRBCI:

661.9

58 HydrockRBCI:

683.4

56Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce

RBCI:

686.4

57 Blue Arrow GroupRBCI:

684.9

54 Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals

RBCI:

686.5