WORK IS NO daily grind at Whitbread, owner of the Costa coffee chain and Premier Inn hotels. Staff love their jobs, scoring 73% positive, which ranks Whitbread eighth among big companies. They have fun together (82%, ninth) at the UK's biggest hospitality company, which includes restaurant brands Brewers Fayre, Beefeater Grill, and Whitbread Inns in its portfolio. Established in 1742 by brewer Samuel Whitbread, the firm, based in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, employs more than 49,500 people at 2,399 sites around the country and is led by Alison Brittain, appointed chief executive last year. The business offers opportunities from job shadowing and elearning to management development schemes and apprenticeships up to masters level. Staff find the training benefits them (72%, third) and believe they can make a valuable contribution to the success of the business (81%). Profits rose by 12% last year to more than £546m. Perks include free private healthcare, share options, profit-related pay, subsidised meals and free drinks. Managers care about how satisfied people are in their job (74%, fourth) and regularly express their appreciation for good work (78%, seventh). Whitbread, which serves 25m customers every month, celebrates company success through events such as last year's summer party for 4,000 Premier Inn and restaurant staff at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, featuring performances by bands All Saints, Rudimental and singer Fleur East. www.whitbread.com
