Appliances Online’s parent DRL is the number-one retailer in The
Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For list. DRL was named best
company in the retail sector and came fifth overall in The Sunday
Times 100 Best Companies to Work For table, a remarkable jump of
58 places, especially when you consider the founders started the
business for a bet. John Roberts was challenged by his web
designer friend Alan Latchford to realise their dream of owning a
kitchen appliance firm; it launched in 2000. Today, the
Bolton-based business has more than 400 staff at three sites and
sales of £151 million last year. Chief executive Roberts
introduced a new scheme last year, entitled Engage Me, which pays
for groups of four or more employees to take part in activities
together. Since its introduction, colleagues have been
paintballing, snowboarding, skiing and even learnt how to speak
Spanish.
Other retailers in the list included Bravissimo at number 10 in
the overall table, Beaverbrooks the Jeweller at 22, The Perfume
Shop at 37, L’Occitane at number 76, Fossil at 78, White Stuff at
81, Neal’s Yard Remedies at 86, Abel & Cole at 95 and
Net-a-Porter at 98.
The list, published on Sunday, 4th March, was determined by the
views of more than 231,000 employees surveyed on workplace
engagement and satisfaction in the UK.
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