Motor insurance to price comparison group Admiral has been named the UK's best big company to work for.
Wales only FTSE 100 company, which employs more than 7,000 in south Wales at offices in Cardiff, Newport and Swansea, took the prestigious title at the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For Awards.
It is the 19th year that Admiral has been recognised as one of the UK’s best employers in the competition. However, this is the first time it has topped the list, which is for companies employing at least 3,000 people.
The other Welsh headquartered firm on the best big companies to work for list is Flintshire-based supermarket chain, Iceland, ranked 8th.
Admiral's chief executive, David Stevens, was also named best leader. It is the sixth year that Admiral has taken the best leader award with Mr Stevens winning last year and in 2017.
Prior to that former chief executive Henry Engelhardt took the title for three years in a row.
Mr Stevens said: “Wow. We are delighted to have been named the UK’s best big company to work for and to have won three special awards, particularly as the results are based on feedback from our staff.
"To have been recognised for 19 years in a row for being a great employer is incredibly rewarding.
“It’s our people that make Admiral such a special place to work and we want them to feel supported and valued and enjoy the time they spend in work. Thank you to all our staff who work hard every day and make Admiral such an amazing workplace.”
Best Companies founder and chief executive , Jonathan Austin, said: “I would like to congratulate Admiral Group on their achievement of a three star accreditation status and being named as one of the UK’s Best Companies to Work for.
“Best Companies have been producing the accreditation standard since 2006 to acknowledge excellence in the workplace.
"We are proud that organisations like Admiral Group focus on their employees and have been rewarded with an engaged workforce who tell us that they’re a best company to work for.”
Admiral also took the Learning and Development Award, in recognition of its online learning tools, and the Wellbeing award, for staff wellbeing initiatives such as its cycle to work scheme, mindfulness sessions, yoga and the Admiral Inspire Choir.
Best 100 Not for Profit Organisations
On the list of the 100 best not for profit organisations to work for, Pontypool-based housing association Melin Homes is the highest ranked from Wales at 11th.
Newydd Housing Association in Tongwynlais is ranked 30th, Monmounthshire Housing Association 69th and Cardiff University's Students Union 98th.
Best 100 Mid Companies, employing at 250
The highest ranked Welsh headquartered firm is Wrexham-based outsourced communicator provider Moneypenny ranked 11th.
Cardiff-based training provider ACT is ranked 72.
Best 100 Small Companies to Work For (at least 50 employees)
The highest ranked firm at 6th, is Caerphilly-based Educ8 Group, which provides training and recruitment solutions to SMEs.
How the companies are scored
The various lists are based on the results of anonymous employee engagement surveys, which are designed to allow employees to comment on all facets of their working environment, relationships and organisational culture.
The surveys cover eight aspects of workplace engagement: leadership; my company; personal growth; my team; my manager; wellbeing; fair deal and giving something back.
The results are then used to create a best companies index score that is then used to rank organisations.
