Best Practice Awards
We have announced our winners for the 2023 Best Practice Awards
Meet the 2023 winners
Best for Mothers
bp
bp has been recognised for supporting mothers at every stage, including through the fertility journey, and successfully forging a family-friendly environment where mothers are choosing to build their careers. By implementing a structured program of support, the judges felt thatbp demonstrated they not only understand what they’re doing and why, but that they are living and breathing it.
Best for Fathers
Sponsored by Babbu
Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
The judges were impressed by the clear level of commitment to creating a culture that supports fathers throughout their journey. Robust policy and flexible working practices are backed up a strong network of support that cultivates connection, and senior leaders who role model by ‘walking the talk’. Not only is support holistic well-thought through but there is a continuous striving to enhance the support on offer.
Best for Carers and Eldercare
Phoenix Group
The judges felt that Phoenix Group stood out as market-leaders that are supporting and striving for better conditions for carers. As well as generous policies and peer support, their push for the self-identification of carers has led to impressive results and their championing of older workers and work on the gender pension gap shows they are really flying the flag for working carers.
Best Family Network
Sponsored by BlckBx
Citigroup
Citi received high praise from the judges for their focus on inclusivity. The network has a holistic approach, addressing all stages and challenges of family life, and collaborating with other networks to recognise the importance of intersectionality. The judges gave a special mention to the support shown internally by the network, and the system of reward and recognition for network chairs.
Best for Mental Health and Wellbeing
Sponsored by Investors in People
Bank of Ireland
The Bank of Ireland impressed the judges with their pioneering strategy of ‘Power down and Recharge’, and their story telling, role modelling and dedicated conference that all address the stigma of conversations around mental health. The judges gave particular praise to the structured approach to supporting mental health which includes regular wellbeing conversations and a workplace wellbeing mental health assessment.
COMMENDED: Mills & Reeve LLP
The judges felt that Mills and Reeve’s deserved special recognition for their huge range of working patterns – over 300 – that supports mental health and wellbeing by providing solutions that meet individual need. The judges praised their clear commitment to being fit for the future and embedding support by signing the Mindful Business Charter to remove unnecessary stress in the workplace.
Best for Flexible Recruitment
British Society for Rheumatology
The British Society for Rheumatology have been recognised for successfully putting people at the heart of their recruitment practices. The inclusive culture and practices reflect their dedication to flexible working through job design and manager training and their recognition of individual need, the success of which is evidenced by improved diversity and high levels of candidate satisfaction.
Best for Flexible Working
Sponsored by Arnold Clark
Reuben Sinclair
The judges felt that Reuben Sinclair epitomises flexible working, with an approach that embodies trust and autonomy whilst promoting wellbeing through measures such as limiting accounts per person to manage workloads and a focus on life outside work. Leave provision is generous, as is the training offer, reflecting an appreciation of the benefits of investing in people, evidenced by the outstanding progress made.
Best Small Employer (SME)
Independent Living Fund Scotland
The judges embraced ILF’s holistic person-centred approach which is demonstrated by parental pay policies and line manager training, which goes above and beyond for the size of the organisation. Robust family-friendly policies and a prioritising of collaborative working has resulted in low staff turnover and outstanding staff feedback.
Best for Supporting Fertility and Pathways to Parenthood
Nationwide Building Society
The judges felt that Nationwide showed themselves to be the gold standard in supporting pathways to parenthood. Training by experts in the field have helped to create a supportive culture, and stand-out policies and initiatives recognise the need for personalised support, the impact of which are evident in the impressive metrics.
COMMENDED: British Army
The judges had high praise for the exceptional level of support offered to a workforce dispersed across the globe. Policies and measures take into account the widely varying personal circumstances and tackle the taboo of male infertility. The British Army have demonstrated huge progression in a short space of time, in particular the network membership, which has grown exponentially.
Full case studies of all our previous winners, commended organisations and finalists can be found in the case study library.