There is just one week remaining for companies and staff to enter this year’s The Herald Top Employer Awards in association with s1jobs. So many nominations have been received that the closing date has been extended until Wednesday, 25 September at 6pm.

The awards are free to enter and they give organisations of all types and sizes a chance to demonstrate the efforts they make to create a workplace where their personnel can flourish.

The evidence is clear that looking after staff pays dividends in the shape of lower sickness rates, better retention and enhanced company performance, while increasingly employers are discovering that potential new recruits are evaluating workplace culture before deciding whether or not to accept a job offer.

Companies with a strong track record of putting their employees first should act now to make sure that their entries for any of this year’s 12 categories are received on time.

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These categories include Best Apprenticeship/Graduate Programme sponsored by Arnold Clark; Best Flexible Working Initiative category, sponsored by Flexibility Works and Inspiring Employee Culture, sponsored by SafeDeposits Scotland, while one outstanding organisation will be named Scottish Top Employer of the Year in an award sponsored by Trump Turnberry.

Lynne McBurney, Arnold Clark’s Group People Director said: “Arnold Clark is always proud to support the Top Employer Awards, as it helps to drive excellence and promote the best possible working culture across the country. It is fantastic to be able to help recognise employers who are excelling in their sector and leading the way in creating supportive working conditions.

 “We also pride ourselves on looking to the future and innovating new ways to foster the next generation of employees – apprentices are the lifeblood of our organisation, bringing new ideas and fresh enthusiasm to every role and driving our business forward. We are looking for employers who understand the importance of their apprentices and graduates and who are creatively implementing teaching and working techniques to bring out the very best in every employee.”

Nikki Slowey, co-founder and director of Flexibility Works, said: “Demand for flexible working is at an all time high with 85% of Scottish workers already working flexibly, or wanting to. Many employers are embracing it too, and with good reason. There are stacks of evidence on the benefits of flexible working for people and for businesses. Our ‘day job’ involves helping employers see what more they could do, and understand why greater flex is worthwhile. So it’s a joy to sponsor this award for forward-thinking employers that already have a great flexible working culture and can see how flex enables their organisation and their people to thrive.”

Mike Smith, Head of SafeDeposits Scotland, said: “It’s our privilege to be supporting The Herald Top Employer Awards for the first time, and in particular sponsoring the Inspiring Employee Culture Award. We firmly believe from our own experience at SafeDeposits Scotland that an effective employee culture is reflected not only within the workplace, but in the positive experiences of our customers and partners.”

Craig Anderson, Sales Director of s1jobs, said “We are proud to support The Herald Top Employer Awards this year, as it aligns with our mission to connect talent with exceptional workplaces. As a job board, we see firsthand the value of companies that prioritise their employees' well-being, development, and inclusivity. We are looking for entrants who demonstrate a genuine commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture, innovation in talent retention, and a clear focus on diversity and employee engagement. We believe these qualities set truly outstanding employers apart, and we're excited to celebrate those leading the way”.

Winners of The Herald Top Employer Awards will be announced at an event on Wednesday, 30 October in The Radisson Blu hotel in Glasgow. Entry forms and full details of all 12 categories can be found at https://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/top-employer-awards/ and further information including sponsorship opportunities is available from Alana Massie, Events Manager, on 07702807008 or by email at alana.massie@newsquest.co.uk