Thomson Local

There can't be many organisations where the senior managers get up on stage to sing a thank you to their staff. At Thomson Directories, the company that produces classified directories and database products, recognising and rewarding employees is a recipe for success. Thomson knows that a happy workforce is a productive workforce — it turned over £113m of business, with pre-tax profits of £23m, in the last financial year and also spent more than £2m on fun and social events. The firm — one of only 24 out of 37,000 to be given Investors In People Champion status — scores highly for belief in its values with staff giving an 83% positive score. They would recommend it as a place to work (also 83%), are proud to work there (80%) and say good work is appropriately rewarded (82%), the latter a top 10 score. As well as a tuneful thank you there are a range of awards for exceptional work, with prizes including an all-expenses paid trip abroad and £3,500 of holiday vouchers. Staff can also win up to £1,000 for good ideas. Thomson's custom-built training centre offers sales courses, management programmes and holistic courses such as keyboard yoga from 13 qualified trainers. A high 77% score for confidence in the leadership skills of the senior management — almost half of whom are women — is augmented by a 78% score for managers giving support to staff, a top 20 result. And staff like their colleagues — saying they are fun to work with (81%) and expressing confidence in their abilities (79%). This all adds up to loyalty and commitment — more than 40% of employees have worked at the firm for at least five years and more than 130 have put in more than 15 years' service. Thomson Directories runs a final-salary pension scheme for which 855 of its employees are eligible. The company contributes 23% of pensionable salary compared with 4% or 5.5% for employees. Staff are also eligible for childcare vouchers helping the company to a 68% positive score for contentment with pay and benefits. They also don't find their employers too demanding; few report either being under so much pressure they can't concentrate or having had stress-related symptoms because of their job (both 73% positive scores), and the firm ranks in the top 40 with a 68% score for happiness with work/life balance.