Asda, Novartis and PepsiCo among the UK’s Top Employers for 2017

Asda, Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK, PepsiCo UK and Ireland (pictured), and Travis Perkins are among the 78 organisations that have been recognised in 2017’s Top Employers UK list, compiled by the Top Employers Institute.

The annual Top Employers certification process assesses an organisation’s employee offering across nine key areas, including compensation and benefits, talent strategy, workforce planning, on-boarding, learning and development, performance management, leadership development, career and succession management, and culture. Following a validation process and external audit, performance scores are rated against an international standard.

The top 10 best-performing organisations for 2017 include British American Tobacco UK, Chep UK, CGI UK, JT International Business Services, PepsiCo UK and Ireland, Rider Levett Bucknall UK, Roche Products, Tata Consultancy Services, Travis Perkins, and Weightmans.

New employers which made the Top Employers list for 2017 include Canon, Electrolux UK, Experian, and GroupM.

The certified organisations were celebrated at an awards dinner on Thursday 9 February 2017, at the Guildhall in London.

James Gooding, director of UK operations at Top Employers, said: “[Organisations] that seek Top Employer certification all share a common interest, a mindset to ensure actions improve employee offerings and that HR contributes to the business in a positive way. Gaining this deep assessment means they can tell how well they compare with other [organisations], giving them clear vision to implement new strategies or practices. Their employer brand gains greater awareness, helping them attract talent, retain and engage their people.”

Miriam Ort, vice president and head of HR at PepsiCo UK and Ireland, which has been recognised for the sixth consecutive year, said: “We are deeply committed to investing in the development of all our [employees], from the factory floor right through to senior management. This is a top priority because we know that our success as a business is tied to the quality of our talent. We are delighted to be recognised again this year. And we want to thank each of our 5,000 dedicated [employees] who are so integral to both delivering our results and making this a great place to work.”

Erica Cassin, HR director at Novartis UK, added: “I’m thrilled that we have achieved the UK Top Employer accreditation for the fourth consecutive year. Novartis UK has consistently been recognised for excellent practices in the areas of talent and career development, as well as leadership. Within a culture that is hugely passionate, collaborative and supportive, our leaders’ active involvement in the development of our [employees] through coaching and mentoring, and our commitment to building diverse and flexible career paths sets us apart.”