Member Article

High five for White Cross Vets

For a record fifth year in a row, a family-run vets in the North East has been named as one of the best places to work in the UK.

White Cross Vets achieved the highest placing of any veterinary business reaching 38 in the prestigious list, which ranks the nation’s top employers.

White Cross Vets, which has practices in Coulby Newham and Redcar, was first named in The Sunday Times ‘Best 100 Best Small Companies To Work For’ league table in 2013, and remains the only veterinary company to ever achieve a three star ‘extraordinary’ rating in the list’s history.

The judging panel surveyed tens of thousands of employees from companies in every sector about all aspects of their working lives before compiling the final table.

Tim Harrison, Managing Director of White Cross Vets, says: “It really has been a case of high fives all round since we found out about this year’s placing, which puts us in this prestigious league table for the fifth consecutive year. We are a family run business that places a huge amount of importance on the wellbeing and happiness of our people and to be recognised for that is incredibly rewarding.”

White Cross Vets was also recently awarded with a top industry award in recognition of the initiatives it has introduced to ensure its team remain happy, healthy and fulfilled in their work. The company scooped the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons’ inaugural Wellbeing Award after the judges scored entrants on everything from development opportunities through to stress reduction initiatives and how they promote wellbeing.

Tim adds: “Our employment initiatives include everything from giving everybody a day off and cake for their birthday, right through to providing four donation days a year where people can volunteer with a charity of their choice. We also provide a health care scheme and recently started offering subsidised Fitbits and gym membership as well as running a cycle to work scheme.

“One of our big priorities also involves supporting mental health, and we provide training on this, alongside a 24 hour helpline for emotional and wellbeing support.

“In addition to all of this, each year we run an annual congress packed with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities and thought-leadership talks on the latest topics affecting our industry. It’s at this event that we also hold an awards ceremony for our 170 strong team, where vets, nurses and client care co-ordinators are singled out for their superb achievements.”

To achieve the listing in the Best Companies table, all of the White Cross team anonymously answered a series of in-depth questions about everything from personal development opportunities, to workplace wellbeing, contributions in the local community and overall opinions about the business.

The Best Companies to Work For survey is now in its 17th year and is designed to rank the cream of Britain’s motivated workforces. It is widely recognised as the most searching and extensive research into employee engagement carried out in the UK.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Mortimer .