WORKING AT APEX Credit Management can be a hair-raising experience as James Edwards, the head of IT, could tell you. After colleagues raised £750 running the Stratford half-marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support, James (previously the proud owner of a ponytail) decided to make his contribution by shaving off his hair and helping to bring the total up to £1,900. Charity fundraising is a key feature of working life at Apex where employees don't just hand over money, but dedicate more than 100 days' help and expertise to local projects over the year. Consequently, the Stratford-upon-Avon organisation ranks second among the top 100 companies for staff believing their company puts a lot back into the local community (78%). Staff believe people go out of their way to help them (81%) and they feel a strong sense of family in their team (76%). They think their job is fun (84%), that people care for one another (82%), and departments work well with each other (61%). In the current harsh economic environment, it is little surprise that staff at a debt collection agency rank their business seventh for feeling they have long-term job security (79%). Nor do employees feel worried for their organisation's future (75%, also ranking seventh best). People are not under so much pressure that they can't concentrate (76%) and few have had stress-related symptoms because of the job (78%). Nor is anyone's health suffering because of work (79%). All three scores rank the debt collector in the top 30. Managers take an active interest in the wellbeing of staff (79%). There is performance-related pay, free private healthcare, a share option scheme, childcare vouchers, and subsidised sports facilities and masseurs, as well as flexible working and a £1,000 shift allowance for those eligible. apexcm.co.uk
