18 consecutive years listed in Best Workplaces™ for Bright Horizons!

It is another fabulous Great Place to Work® honour for Bright Horizons, which sees the employer solutions, back-up care and nursery provider extend its impressive record of 18 consecutive years listed in Best Workplaces™ (super large category). This latest award follows Bright Horizons’ inclusion in the UK's Best Workplaces™ list for Wellbeing in February.

Bright Horizons’ approach is to embed a culture of trust and understanding which empowers its colleagues to speak up when they need help and to use the tools and resources provided to support their wellbeing in and outside of work. The majority of colleagues at Bright Horizons are early years practitioners working in nurseries, and the company works hard to ensure compensation is consistently at the upper end of sector market rates. This year the company has built on its 2022 investment with a further £8 million to ensure that it continues to offer some of the most competitive salaries in the UK’s early years sector.

Ros Marshall, Managing Director at Bright Horizons UK, said: “We are committed to providing the highest-quality early years education, childcare and work/life solutions in the world. We know that the difference we make is down to the quality, commitment and passion of our people. Our approach to being an inclusive organisation directly translates into the care and sense of belonging provided for our children within our early years settings and our employer services, which support leading organisations with their own Diversity, Equity and Inclusion agendas. We are very proud of our whole workforce, and the positive impact we are making in the wider world. We aim to be the Employer of Choice within the childcare sector and are delighted that our people have responded so positively again and given their vote of confidence in our organisation. We are particularly proud to be recognised as one of the Great Place to Work Institute’s UK’s Best Workplaces™ (2023), now for 18 years in succession.”

Janine Leightley, HR Director at Bright Horizons, said: “Wellbeing is at the heart of Bright Horizons, and our approach is constantly evolving as we listen to our colleagues and develop programmes that support both their home and work lives, helping to create an environment where everyone can flourish.

Every day we provide choice and flexibility with the care we provide to families and to our clients’ employees. It’s only natural that we extend that to our practitioners. Nearly half (48%) of our colleagues work flexibly. Managers are trained to manage and accommodate the different needs and working patterns for their teams, and they receive support for this. We encourage everyone to take advantage of opportunities to progress and develop, and our leadership programme is open to everyone, including those who work part time. 22% of our senior managers work flexibly, acting as role models for others and demonstrating that working part time is not a barrier to progress.”

The approach by Bright Horizons towards wellbeing has always been holistic, with four intertwined pillars: Emotional, Physical, Financial and Social. Some of the benefits for employees include:

• Childcare discount at nurseries (which can be up to 100% of childcare discount depending on the role)
• Back-up care for loved ones of all ages
• Salary sacrifice schemes, which can be used for a Cycle to Work scheme, a Pension Scheme, Workplace Nursery Fees, and Annual Holiday Buy
• Discounts/cashbacks that can be used to purchase a wide range of goods and services
• Life assurance
• Speak To An Expert consultancy sessions for helping with challenging situations from navigating care home options for elderly relatives to helping teenagers deal with exam stress.

“As the global authority on workplace culture, our mission at Great Place to Work® has always been to build a better world by helping organisations become a great place to work for all. We strongly believe in the notion of ‘better for business, better for people, better for the world,” said Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place to Work® UK.

“Best Workplaces™ consistently put people first – not just in terms of looking out for their own employees but also by caring for and supporting their surrounding community and environment. We’re incredibly proud to recognise the very best ‘For All’ organisations committed to equity and unfaltering in ensuring that all employees are empowered to deliver the right strategic solutions to ever-changing business opportunities and challenges.”

Bright Horizons has also featured as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ for Women since this list first started in 2018.