St Ann’s Hospice in Top Ten for Third Year

The Sunday Times has named St Ann’s Hospice as the 9th ‘Best Company To Work For’ in the UK. This is the third consecutive year that the charity, which cares for over 3,000 people with life threatening illnesses across Greater Manchester, has found itself in the top ten.

The awards ceremony, which recognises best practice in UK workplaces, is now in its sixth year with a record total of over 87,000 employees participating in the project.

Chief Executive at the Hospice, Terry McDonnell, received the award from BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine, at the Battersea Park Events Arena on March 2nd.

Commenting on the success, Mr McDonnell said: “Being nominated within the Top 100 companies is a huge achievement in itself but coming in the top ten three years running is a wonderful accolade.

“The Hospice is committed to providing the highest standards of care to our patients, their families and carers, but we are equally committed to our staff who all contribute significantly to the overall running of the organisation. It is testimony to the dedication of every single person who works at St Ann’s that we have achieved this outstanding commendation and national recognition.”

As an independent charity and one of the largest adult hospices in the UK, St Ann’s Hospice needs £8.75 million to offer its wide range of services free of charge each year. Currently it receives 35% of this from government funding, leaving £5.8 million – that is £16,000 every day – which must be raised through voluntary contributions. Despite great pressure on the Hospice to raise enough money to continue to provide this care, St Ann’s strength lies in its recognition of the value of its staff.

Isobel Walton, a Daycare patient at the Hospice, said: “Staff must be so happy to work here; everything is done with such enthusiasm and care, they obviously love their jobs. I’ve been welcomed like a long lost friend by all staff here. Coupled with their expertise, I can see why they have done so well.”

The Sunday Times Best Company to Work For is the only survey in Britain that ranks companies on the basis of what their employees have to say and as such has quickly become one of the most prestigious accolades in the UK.

Participating organisations are evaluated on a series of criteria measuring their leadership style, rewards and recognition, work-life balance, opportunities for professional and personal growth, contribution to society and the overall working environment.

St Ann’s Inpatient Services Manager, Sue Taylor, who is based at the Heald Green site, said: ”Staff working at the Hospice, whatever their role, feel privileged to journey alongside patients and families at this momentous time in their lives. The rewards speak for themselves. The deep satisfaction that staff feel in a job well done can not be measured in monetary terms.”

Tens of thousands of employees all over the UK are questioned each year to find out which companies truly are the best, and companies that put people first lead the way every single time.