Business West, the organisation that runs Bristol Chamber of Commerce and the Bristol Initiative, has been named among the UK’s best employers for the first time.
Business West, based at Leigh Court near Bristol, appears at number 80 in this year’s prestigious Sunday Times ‘100 best not-for-profit companies to work for’ national list and is placed third in the South West. 
The accolade was announced at a ceremony in London last week attended by Business West representatives.
Firms are judged on a number of criteria including employees’ views on the company’s leadership, their manager and team, their personal growth opportunities, giving back to society and the local community, and pay and benefits, with an overall focus on those companies which invest in the wellbeing and motivation of their employees.
Business West managing director Phil Smith said: “I, and the board of directors, take enormous pride in providing an enjoyable and rewarding environment for all employees of Business West. We feel that to grow a strong successful business, you must ensure job satisfaction across the company.
“To be acknowledged as one of the UK’s best employers with a nationally-recognised achievement makes us incredibly proud and we will continue to strive for excellence in both the work we do and the environment we do it in.”
In its survey of Business West staff, The Sunday Times found that its 179 employees believed they could make a valuable contribution to its success, giving an 84% positive score for this statement.
Some 78% of staff agreed that the company had a strong social conscience with 81% happy that managers talked openly and honestly with them. Some 77% of them said colleagues went out of their way to help one another, with 70% saying they were fun to work with and 81% that they cared for each other.
Business West, which supplies a range of information, advice, networking events and international trade support, operates from offices in Swindon, Midsomer Norton and Porton Down as well as in Bristol. Last month its contract to run the UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) service in the region was extended for another five years.
Its profits are reinvested in the company to help it achieve its mission to make the region the best place to start up and grow a business.
