Big reward for small businesses (From The Bolton News)

Big reward for small businesses

A RECRUITMENT agency in Bolton has been named as one of the UK's best small employers.

Jobwise, which has headquarters in Bridge Street, was placed 45th in The Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For list.

The firm has made the list for the past two years and kept its place, despite a 20 per cent increase in applicants for the list.

Grant Barton, managing director of Jobwise, said the company was successful because it engaged with staff on a personal level.

He said: "What makes us different is that we keep it personal, we remember birthdays, we celebrate our staff's special occasions with them and at Jobwise it's never all work and no play.

"For instance, in previous years as a reward for meeting sales targets, everyone jetted off to Alicante for a weekend of sun, fun and team-building."

The survey, compiled by a firm called Best Companies, ranks companies on the basis of what their employees say.

It is based on the confidential responses of nearly 13,000 employees of small and medium-sized businesses to 66 questions, covering areas such as leadership, personal growth, well-being and fair dealing.

The questionnaire also asked employees about their feelings towards their immediate boss, colleagues and the company generally, and what they felt about how much their company gave back to the community.

Staff said they were motivated by their manager to give their best every day (77 per cent) and were praised for a job well done (85 per cent).

Around 86 per cent of Jobwise staff felt that the company cared about them.

Jobwise was set up 29 years ago. It employs 58 staff at its headquarters in Bolton and six branches across the North-west.

Kerry Wilcock, HR business manager, said: "It's good for morale and the staff like to see that the company is being recognised.

"It helps with the recruitment and retention of employees."