Northwich-based bakery Frank Roberts named 'Good Employer' at national awards
23 September 2016
Northwich-based bakery Frank Roberts & Sons Ltd has scooped a national award for creating a great place to work. The company won the coveted Good Employer award at last night's prestigious Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Awards, held at London's The Brewery.
The FDF Awards celebrate the best businesses across the food and drink industry. The Good Employer award, sponsored by apetito, recognises companies that have made an extra effort to create a positive working environment for employees. Frank Roberts & Sons is a fourth generation family owned business based in Northwich, Cheshire and these values are present throughout the organisation and the way it works with its employees, who number over 900.
The business recognised it needed to build on its engagement with colleagues and develop the at-work experience for team members. To do this it formed an Organisational Development Group, bringing together a mix of managers from across the company, and also created an Engage for Growth Group, including staff representatives from all across the business. Bespoke programmes have also been created for colleagues to foster professional development in areas such as skills and leadership.
A community volunteering scheme has also begun to encourage deeper links with the wider area. These developments have had a positive linked effect on the business. For example, waste has decreased, accidents and sickness have reduced, product quality has increased, and customer service has improved.
FDF's Director General Ian Wright said:
“Frank Roberts & Sons' employee engagement model is a great example of a
business going the extra mile to ensure its employees' work life experience is
as
fulfilling as possible. Its new CPD programmes and volunteering schemes are
very
good examples of a business building deep links both with team members and the
wider community. Moreover, it is clear that being a good employer drives
significant value and benefits for the business, leading to happier, more
productive
colleagues, a better product and better customer service.
“We congratulate the management team at Frank Roberts & Sons for the creativity
that they have applied and commitment that they have shown to their colleagues'
health, happiness and wellbeing.” Lee Sheppard, Director of Public Policy & External Affairs at category sponsor
apetito commented:
“Any business is only as good as its people and Frank Roberts and Sons have
embraced that principle. They have displayed remarkable openness and honesty in
looking at their employee engagement and this has generated a wide range of
initiatives that really matter to their staff. Unsurprisingly, this approach is
reaping benefits in terms of employee morale, community involvement and
business
performance”
Event photos are available on FDF's Flickr page The 2017 FDF Awards will launch in November 2016. More information
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