FROM GRASSROOTS SPORT to the Millennium stadium, Sport Wales wants to develop a nation of champions and its 196 employees are already winners. The staff, based in Cardiff and three other sites, have an amazing array of sporting facilities at their fingertips, either free or at drastically reduced rates. People at head office can take a quick squash break, play football, or even take up boxing if they are feeling stressed. For those who want to stretch themselves, there's a gymnastics facility too. The site, in North Wales, offers rowing, sailing and cycling, while one-third of employees have taken up the tax efficient bike-to-work scheme. People's health doesn't suffer due to work — quite the opposite (78% positive, a top 20 score among small bodies) and they haven't had stress-related symptoms in the past year either (77%, in 10th place). Development officers typically earn almost £40,000 a year, which is fair for the industry (61%) and for their roles (62%). New initiatives include breakfasts in which staff are able to quiz senior executives in an informal setting and a recent staff day bought everyone together from across Wales to discuss work. It's not all hard graft, however. Annual holiday ranges from 28 to 33 days and there are sabbaticals, in case people want to follow a sporting tour far away. Employees have a final-salary pension, new fathers get three weeks off at full salary and new mothers have 26 weeks off, fully paid. People are happy with these benefits (72%) and find the whole business of sporting life stimulating (76%). sportwales.org.uk
