SARH recognised as a ‘3 Star Extraordinary’ place to work

A Stafford-based housing association has strengthened its reputation as one of the best not for profit employers in the country.

Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) has stunned independent observers by securing a ‘Three Star Extraordinary’ accreditation in the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For after submitting an entry for inclusion just once before.

Last year SARH entered for the first time and came in at 20 in the prestigious list for not-for-profit organisations with a ‘Two Star, Outstanding’ accreditation.

Jo Hough, Head of Organisational Development at SARH, explained: “To achieve two stars at our first attempt was a remarkable achievement, but to reach the highest possible accreditation within a year is incredible.

“As part of the Times Top 100 Best Companies Staff Survey process, our employees were questioned on a range of topics, including leadership, wellbeing, personal growth and their pay and benefits.

“More than 90 per cent of staff  said SARH has inspirational leadership, and 97 per cent said they were proud to work for the organisation.

“We are particularly pleased that this latest accolade is based on what employees from right across the business think, and it reflects the organisation’s commitment to them.”

Following an announcement of the assessment results, SARH has to wait until later in the month to find out how it compares with other organisations on the Times Top 100 Not for Profit Best Companies 2015 list when this year’s rankings are released in full.

Karen Armitage, Stafford and Rural Homes Chief Executive, added: “A commitment to supporting our employees is a key ingredient in our vision to ensure SARH offers a great place to live, work and grow.

“We recognise that you can’t deliver an exceptional service to customers without an exceptional team, and this latest accolade reflects the organisation’s dedication to ensuring everyone at SARH has the chance to Be the Best they can be.”