IT'S official! Rider Levett Bucknall is the best property and construction consultancy to work for.
The practice is the only firm to be ranked in both The Sunday Times and the Guardian's much-coveted and highly prestigious UK top employers awards for 2008.
During last Thursday's Guardian awards event the firm was named as Number 2 "Top UK Employer", beating companies like ASDA, Cadbury Schweppes, GlaxoSmithKline, John Lewis Partnership, Pret a Manger, Selfridges and Volkswagen.
This is the third consecutive year that Rider Levett Bucknall has made the Guardian list after being ranked 39th in 2006 and 23rd in 2007. The firm is the only property and construction consultant this year to make the Guardian's grade after a rigorous interview and selection process.
This news comes the week after Rider Levett Bucknall made its debut in The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For awards - a phenomenal achievement given that 2008 was the first time the UK practice, which was formed in 2003 following a management buyout, met the criteria of having five years of trading under its belt.
Rider Levett Bucknall was ranked 69th in The Sunday Times' Best Companies to Work For awards and also achieved an 'outstanding' two-star accreditation. The practice was listed alongside three of its much larger rivals, once again demonstrating the firm's ability to punch far and above its weight when it comes to attracting and retaining the best staff in the industry.
Rider Levett Bucknall offers staff extremely competitive salaries, share options, industry leading pension and impressive flexible benefits including numerous tax and National Insurance efficient salary sacrifice schemes which even features tax-free season ticket loans! There is also an exceptional training and development programme under the RLB Academy. In addition, the firm is committed to both its social and environmental responsibilities.
It is a package that is paying dividends, resulting in a happy and motivated workforce that is only too pleased to praise its employer - The Sunday Times listing is primarily based on staff feedback
Hilary Richardson, HR Manager at Rider Levett Bucknall, said: "It is great to achieve this recognition especially when we look at the other companies we are rubbing shoulders with. The awards are based on honest feedback from our employees - feedback we will really build on for an even better place to work in the future."
Ann Bentley, Operations Director at Rider Levett Bucknall, added: "When the UK practice was established in 2003, the primary aim was to create a great working environment for everyone. We have certainly done that, and these prestigious accolades from two national newspapers come in a year of record profits at Rider Levett Bucknall, proving we are sticking to our mantra of 'have fun, feel valued and make money forever'."
Lance Taylor, Chief Executive commented: "To be ranked second in the UK by the Guardian after making the Sunday Times grade at the first time of asking is a tremendous achievement. To think that nearly over 1,000 of the UK's top companies applied and we are up there with the best really demonstrates our commitment to our people - I am immensely proud"
The latest awards follow a clutch of accolades that further reinforce Rider Levett Bucknall's position as the industry's top employer. In 2006, it achieved Investors in People (IIP) accreditation and has recently been notified that IIP is using Rider Levett Bucknall as a case study for best practice. It also featured among the Top 50 Companies in the Building Good Employer Guide 2007, and was named Quantity Surveyor employer of the Year in 2006.