PlaceShapers group of housing associations dominate Best Companies list

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing

One in five of The Sunday Times 100 Best Not For Profit Organisations to Work For 2013 are from the PlaceShapers group of housing associations.

Following an awards ceremony in London last Wednesday, it was revealed that 21 PlaceShaper organisations are in the prestigious Top 100 list.

The PlaceShapers Group is a national alliance of almost 90 community-focused housing associations. Its members own and manage 675,000 homes and provide services to more than two million people.

The Best Companies lists are compiled based on research from the largest survey of its kind and published in The Sunday Times every year in March. The survey asks employees to rate their organisations across eight engagement factors covering how they feel about the company, its leader and their manager as well as whether they are happy with the pay and benefits they receive.

The highest scoring PlaceShaper was B3Living in Broxbourne, at number four after jumping six places from number 10 in 2012.

John Giesen, chief executive of B3Living, said: “The most important thing about this award is that it reflects the great service we provide to our residents and partners. We want to live our values and it shows!”

“Being a best company is about excelling in every area throughout the workplace and an organisation's commitment to its most important assets - its workforce. “

Peaks and Plains Housing Trust in Macclesfield was placed in the list for the first time at number 38 and won a special award for the most Improved.

Chief executive, Tim Pinder, said: “What makes it special for us is being listed among other PlaceShapers for whom we have the greatest respect. If ever the adage; Judge us by the Company we keep was appropriate, it’s when looking down this Top 100 list. We’ve been inspired by PlaceShapers who got there before us in previous years and have worked really hard as a team this last 12 months to understand what our colleagues need to feel more engaged and to then strive to make it happen.”

Other successful member organisations came from up and down the country with 11 entering for the first time.

Tony Stacey, chair of the PlaceShapers Group, said: “I am delighted to see so many PlaceShapers listed in this year’s best not for profit list. Human-sized organisations like PlaceShapers are superbly placed to engage staff, deliver excellent services that are really focused on their local customers and create national impact. This is a fantastic testament to their efforts.”

The not for profit list will be published in The Sunday Times on Sunday 17 March and will include a full profile on all the successful organisations via a dedicated website thesundaytimes.co.uk/best100companies