Caring Charity Scoops Top Employer Award

National employment charity Shaw Trust which supports people into work has been named one of the UK's best employers in a prestigious national award ceremony.

Shaw Trust, the UK 's largest third sector provider of employment services for disabled and disadvantaged people was the highest ranking charity in the Guardian 100 Best Employers of 2008 awards.

"We are delighted to be named in these important awards for the second year running and to have improved our position overall," said Carol Alexander, Shaw Trust Chief Officer People & Performance.

"We are highly effective in delivering services and engaged with some 60,000 people last year but we also take pride in being a good employer and are delighted to be recognised as such.

"We value every single one of the 1,200 people who works for us. They are consummately professional, highly trained and dedicated and they care about our values and every single client they support," she added.

The Trust was listed alongside some of the UK 's top names including Cadbury Schweppes, John Lewis, Glaxo Smith Kline and Oxfam and came higher in the rankings than last year.

The awards, which were run by the Guardian together with the Corporate Research Foundation were presented at a ceremony in The British Library, London on Thursday March 20th.

Long-serving Shaw Trust employee Rosie Savery believes the award was richly deserved, she enjoys working for the Trust so much that she has no plans to retire in the foreseeable future.

"I know the Trust inside out and I love working here. It has grown dramatically since I joined 14 years ago but it has never lost that ethos of being a caring and supporting organisation," said Rosie 64, who lives in Corsham near the Trust's Chippenham-based head office where she is a PA.

"What I really like about it is the lack of hierarchy. We are one big team who all pull together to do such a worthwhile job. Shaw Trust never stands still it is an exciting, vibrant and forward-looking place to work.

"I'll be here till I'm at least 81 as this isn't a job so much as a way of life," she added.

Progress2work adviser Andy Wright 46, who has Cerebral Palsy, left the pressured target-driven world of IT to join Shaw Trust four years ago to work with clients who have substance and alcohol abuse issues and he has never looked back.

"I like the flexible hours and enjoy working from home or out in the community. I organise my own time I love the challenge, love helping people and although I'm independent I have the support if I need it. It's the ideal job for me, "says Andy.

*An internal staff survey was carried out over several weeks when the following comments were recorded:

I get a great sense of job satisfaction at the end of the day knowing I am making a difference to people's lives.

Shaw Trust is a 'can do' organisation which to date has always had an open minded attitude. Shaw Trust is a good organisation for spotting potential and developing it.

I appreciate the vision and values, the reason behind the Trust, helping individuals improve their lives, by giving advice, help and guidance. As an Employer Shaw Trust also has good benefits and pay scales.

Overall social objectives mean a lot to me personally and are my main motivation. Income is ploughed back into work aimed at achieving those objectives. I'm proud to say which organisation I work for and to explain what I do.

For me the work / home balance is very important as is the ability to work from home. Also important is the flexibility allowed. Obviously I really enjoy my role as it gives me job satisfaction. I have never yet been bored at work or not wanted to go in. This is after going on 5 years.

I enjoy the challenges I have to meet and the colleagues I work with are usually like minded. I love the fact that my work and the work of the Trust can positively change the lives of many of those I have the pleasure of helping, from giving them the confidence they need to improve their situations to getting them into paid employment and all aspects in between.

I believe in the ethos of Shaw Trust, and love working with clients and helping them to achieve goals they never thought where possible. I get along very well with my colleagues and find we are a very strong team and all supportive of each other.

Shaw Trust actively care about their staff particularly health, equality and diversity and respect that sometimes compassionate leave is required, they do not keep hassling when are you coming back to work, adding more stress to the situation.

Training needs and wants are a priority at Shaw Trust, personal development is encouraged at all times. The work that Shaw Trust does in general is very rewarding.

An open approach that enables staff to express views without fear of reprisal and actively encourages all staff to contribute to performance improvements.

NOTES TO EDITORS

*A Photo for use with this release shows from left to right Steven Veenedaal, Director of the Corporate Research Foundation with Shaw Trust' Carol Alexander, Chief Officer ­ People & Performance and Nick Lee, Business Performance Manager

1. For further details, please contact Niki Torkington on 07970 434514 or you can email: crucialpr@shaw-trust.org.uk

2. Shaw Trust is a national charity, formed in 1982, which helps people with disability or disadvantage to find work and achieve independence. We do this not only by delivering government programmes, but also through our own self-funded initiatives, and by campaigning to change attitudes at all levels.

3. Across the UK more than 1,200 staff now oversee a diverse range of more than 200 projects.

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