MANCHESTER-BASED GREAT Places Housing Group may have to look after 15,000 properties, but it still finds time for its employees. A registered landlord providing social housing in the northwest and Yorkshire and Humberside, it aims to turn deprived neighbourhoods around by developing affordable and sustainable homes. Staff believe Stephen Porter, chief executive for the past 19 years, runs the organisation on sound moral principles (a positive score of 82%), they have a great deal of faith in him (79%) and feel the company is run on strong values (81%). The 570-plus employees love working for the group (77%), say work is an important part of their life (82%) and feel the association makes a positive difference to the world (79%). The majority of staff do flexible hours with more than 450 of them working part-time or job sharing. Benefits include 39 weeks' maternity leave on full pay, two weeks' paternity pay, a contributory pension with a minimum employer input of 5.9% and various discounted services. The efforts of top-performing staff are recognised during six-monthly pay reviews and loyal employees who remain with the association for 10, 20, 25 and 30 years are recognised at a lunch with the chief executive and get vouchers worth £250. Working regularly with vulnerable adults and children, the staff are proud of their record of Giving Something Back (72%, a top 10 ranking). The company has a charity fund to help residents and tenants by supporting their education, helping them to achieve their ambitions or to purchase household goods and items to help them live an independent life. Founded in 2006, the organisation, previously the Manchester Methodist Housing Association, believes charity begins at home and each year, dedicates a week for fundraising. Charity walks, ironing for cash, breakfast cooking, beard growing and cake-making are organised by employees. The association matches up to £5,000 in funds raised and recently donated to Beechwood Cancer Care Centre in Stockport, St Ann's hospice in Wythenshawe and Parkinson's UK. With a full-time environmental officer, a co-ordinator and 35 dedicated green volunteers, the association monitors its consumption of electricity, gas and water at all its offices. It has recently introduced a car-sharing scheme and all its regional offices have web conferencing facilities to cut the need for business travel. greatplaces.org.uk
