New champion Wren Kitchens – which manufactures its own kitchen units in the UK – heads a crop of homegrown success stories. John Lewis & Partners drops from top spot to eighth in list comprising of six homegrown companies. Contributor Bill Richards, UK Managing Director – Indeed 

Wren Kitchens has been rated the best retail employer to work for in the UK, according to data released by the world’s biggest job site Indeed. The Humberside-based retailer, which employs over 4,000 staff, scored consistently highly for valuing its employees to top the annual ranking, which is compiled using thousands of employee review postings on Indeed’s website.

John Lewis & Partners topped the list last year but has fallen to eighth place while Lush Cosmetics retains its runner-up spot from 2018. Third on the list is bed retailer Dreams followed by shoe chain Clarks and high street giant Marks and Spencer, with luxury department store Harrods also scoring well among its staff. The six most popular retail brands among employees are all homegrown, UK-based companies.
The retail sector – and particularly the high street – has continued to endure high-profile struggles over the past year but working in the industry clearly still holds real attraction for many people. Bill Richards, UK managing director at global job site Indeed, comments: “These are testing times for Britain’s high street retailers. Not only are they having to compete with their online rivals for customers, the tight labour market means they’re having to fight hard to find and retain good people.

“One way companies can appeal to jobseekers is through a strong employer brand and compelling digital presence. In our most recent research 70% of jobseekers said that insight into a company’s employer reputation is important while considering a job opportunity. It’s clear: a company’s online reputation has never been more important when it comes to attracting talent.

He continued: “The brands in our ranking have successfully created a positive and desirable work environment, earning plaudits from their staff and providing an example we can all learn from.”

Mark Pullan, Managing Director at Wren Kitchens, said: “We are delighted to have received this recognition, which is a reflection of the great team we have. The success of our business is entirely down to the strength of our team. We are incredibly lucky to have people who are completely customer focused, hardworking and enthusiastic. The award is a tribute to the team and the culture they have created. The business is continuing to expand and we are always looking for passionate, ambitious and committed individuals who want to build a rewarding career with us”.

Hilary Jones, Ethics Director at Lush, said: “We are so lucky at Lush that we seem to attract staff who love our products, want to pass that love on to our customers and who care deeply about issues affecting the wider world, our planet and the other people and animals we share it with. Add all that together and what you get is a bunch of people who are highly motivated, strongly opinionated and driven to make improvements in all areas of work and the world – no business could ask for more.”

Michelle Monahan, Head of Resourcing at Dreams said: “We are absolutely delighted at being rated third in Indeed’s Top Rated Workplaces. Since the appointment of our CEO Mike Logue and the implementation of our core business values, which are at the heart of everything we do, the business has gone from strength to strength. Dreams is truly a great company to work for, our commitment to put our customers first and working together as one team has contributed to five years of positive growth”

Belinda Deery, Chief People Officer at Clarks, said: “We’re very pleased to have been ranked so highly as a Top-Rated workplace. What’s most pleasing is that it’s based on the reviews and ratings of our employees themselves. We appreciate the passion and commitment our people bring to our business and are determined to never take for granted the discretionary effort they give. As a family owned business, family values like responsibility, respect and integrity are an enduring part of our success and are important in making Clarks a special place to work.”

An M&S spokesperson said: “At M&S we pride ourselves on promoting a fun and flexible working environment for all our colleagues with equal opportunities to develop their skills and careers. It’s important to make the application process as informative, accessible and engaging as possible for candidates considering a career with us.”