Member Article

Better Bathrooms Named Employer of the Year

BETTER BATHROOMS WINS A LLOYDS BANK NATIONAL BUSINESS AWARD *UK’s largest independent bathroom and tiles retailer named Deloitte Employer of the Year* *Winners across all categories revealed at gala dinner ceremony last night* *Buzz Aldrin headline speaker of the evening*

Better Bathrooms were named winners of the Deloitte Employer of the Year Award at the 2015 Lloyds Bank National Business Awards gala dinner ceremony, held at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane. This award recognises the employee strategy that best attracts, retains and develops talent – and recognises a company’s contribution to sustainable growth and being an employer of choice.

Better Bathrooms is the UK’s largest independent bathroom and tiles retailer, offering nine large bathroom and tile showrooms and two trade counters throughout the UK.

The Lloyds Bank National Business Awards judges said: “This rapidly scaling business has hit on something of a magic formula; it has retained a real sense of personality and motivation, pulling together its workforce through very approachable management and a flat structure. This means that every employee was bought into the company’s success – undoubtedly contributing to the amazing expansion of the company. The management showed that winning this award was a heartfelt goal and would be something that would instil genuine pride.”

Colin Stevens, CEO and Founder of www.betterbathrooms.com said: “To win Employer of the Year is an amazing achievement, especially with the quality of finalists in the category! Better Bathrooms has undergone unprecedented growth and achievements over the past year and I could not have done it without my fantastic team. I believe we excel in employee engagement, encouragement and development, and have combined that with rewarding and recognition – we do not follow what everyone else does – we do things The Better Way. We currently employ nearly 500 people across the UK and this award is dedicated to all of them.”

Peter Stevens, CCO of Better Bathrooms said, “It’s brilliant for all of us. In our local area, Wigan and Leigh, it’s a business that’s created nearly 500 new jobs in a 6 to 7 year period, it’s absolutely fantastic and we’ll hopefully go forward to create a 100 jobs in the next 2 years. Winning is everything to the people at Better Bathrooms.”

Anne-Marie Malley, head of Deloitte UK’s human capital practice, said: “An organisation’s culture – defined as employee engagement, meaningful work, strong sense of leadership direction, job and organisational fit – has risen as a key issue for companies worldwide over the past few years. No longer seen as a ‘soft concept’ or a ‘nice to have’, it is now widely recognised as an important challenge with a real business impact. The Deloitte Employer of the Year award recognises an organisation that is working hard to establish a collaborative and engaging workplace.”

Over 1200 business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians and media representatives gathered at the Grosvenor House Hotel for the 14th annual National Business Awards. The Awards were presented by Sky News’ Ian King and Poppy Trowbridge and welcomed former Astronaut and second man on the moon, Buzz Aldrin as headline speaker.

The Prime Minister opened proceedings at the ceremony with a message for this year’s finalists. He told the audience: “I want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you on behalf of the whole country, for all that you’re doing to create jobs and growth in Britain…tonight we celebrate all that you’re doing, from your leadership in digital and innovation, to the Duke of York’s new award for University Entrepreneurship, these awards are rightly the Oscars of great British business.

“The awards recognise people who have the guts to strike out on their own, who have the tenacity to work hard for every deal and who have the innovation and vision that lets you grow your business

and take new people on. Its people like you who are making this the most entrepreneurial and dynamic period in our country’s recent history. So thank you again for all you’re doing.“

The winners across all 18 categories included Crown Paints Limited, which triumphed in the Grichan Partnership Sustainable Business of the Year category, Premiership Rugby, winner of The Corporate Citizenship Award, and The Body Coach, winner of the Lloyds Bank New Business of the Year Award. *see footnotes for all winners

Carolyn McCall OBE, Chief Executive of Easyjet was named Ashridge Business School Leader of the Year. This is the highest accolade in the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards which recognises the personal imprint of the UK’s most high profile leaders and industry champions from the private, public and third sectors. The finalists were judged on their achievements as business leaders over the last 18 months, and their personal achievements in the course of their career.

Tony Pidgley CBE, Chairman of Berkeley Group was awarded with the Lloyds Bank Excellence in Business Award.

Tom Broughton, Programme Director for the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards, said: “We were delighted to host yet another successful gala dinner ceremony celebrating the full spectrum of British Business in 2015; the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards are the accolade of choice for those seeking the highest recognition. This year’s winners demonstrate the quality and diversity of businesses driving economic growth in the UK.”

For more information and to find out how to register your business for the 2016 National Business Awards, visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Louisa Bradshaw .