Yell is a directories business operating in the classified advertising market. It has a printed arm through Yellow Pages and runs an online service through Yell.com as well as its own phone service (118 247).
Yell, as befits its name, makes a point of maintaining good communications throughout the company. It employs 3,566 people and uses surveys, workshops, feedback programmes, newsletters, intranet and magazines across its 11 sites. The message is getting through — more than 79% of staff feel their managers talk openly with them.
The Reading-based company's typical job is field sales consultant, with 739 people in the post earning an average salary of £31,785. Across the company, about three-quarters of staff say they are happy with their pay and benefits.
The company offers flexible working including home working, job sharing, term time working and flexitime.
Training is a vital element in the firm's profile, and starters are given a "buddy" to help them settle in during their first months.
Management is clearly strong, with 75% claiming they have confidence in the leadership skills of the senior team.
Support from colleagues also appears to be a critical feature of life at Yell. Nearly eight out of 10 employees say people in their team go out of their way to help them, while a similar number say they laugh a lot with team-mates, and even more say they have confidence in their colleagues' abilities.
The company spent £713,000 on social events last year and runs themed dressing-up days, "break out" days for people to chat to colleagues and an interdepartmental football league. Perks include subsidised gym membership, discounts on local hair salons, restaurants and shops — and private healthcare for senior managers.
The firm has its own "thank you cards" for peers or internal customers, while there are informal and formal rewards for high performers — ranging from "duvet days" or a meal in a local restaurant to an all-expenses- paid weekend at a top European resort, such as La Manga in Spain.
Yell works hard to keep its staff and it shows. Nearly 28% have worked for the company longer than 10 years, while almost 80% of employees say they are proud to work for the company.