The 2024 UK’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing, Production & Transportation™ list was revealed this morning by Great Place To Work® UK, recognising Europe’s largest ice manufacturer, The Ice Co, among the list of organisations in the medium category.

Measured by an annual employee survey, The Ice Co’s employees anonymously reported that the brand’s company culture makes the manufacturer a great place to work, scoring an impressive 74%, in comparison to the 54% average across the category. The business also scored highly across the board for treating employees fairly, making new starters feel welcome, and adopting an approachable management style.

The Ice Co has made significant efforts to prioritise employee wellbeing in recent years. The company’s ‘Give Thanks’ scheme encourages peer recognition and celebration of good work; all frontline managers are trained as Mental Health First Aiders, and a new wellbeing room was also introduced in 2023.

Notably, this year The Ice Co introduced a specially designed leadership programme developed to provide new managers with the tools, support and guidance to be able to perform their role effectively. Since then, 23 managers have completed the scheme, and 70% of those who took part have now progressed to a higher role.

The Best Workplaces in Manufacturing, Production & Transportation list is created using the anonymous feedback from a survey of employees working in the industry about their workplace experience.

Great Place To Work® UK administered their research-backed Trust Index© employee survey and analysed the responses of UK-based employees in the manufacturing, production and transportation sector to determine the Best Workplaces™ list. The surveys asked employees to comment on how their company supports their work-life balance, sense of fulfilment, job satisfaction, psychological safety and financial security. Evaluations also included an assessment of how well the organisation was able to deliver consistency of their employee experience across all departments and seniority levels.

Analysis of the sector employee survey responses found:

• 79% of employees at the UK’s Best Workplaces for Manufacturing, Production & Transportation say “I am offered training or development to further myself professionally” compared to a UK average for sector of 57%

Polly Metcalfe, Managing Director at The Ice Co, commented: “We’re so excited to be included in the list. Employee satisfaction is incredibly important to us and has received additional funding in recent years, so to receive recognition for that is really special.

“The progression and wellbeing of our staff is at the heart of everything we do, and we’re so pleased that the passion we have for both the product and the people behind it has been acknowledged in this way.”

Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work® UK said: “It’s great to see so many examples on our new UK’s Best Workplaces in Manufacturing, Production & Transportation list of organisations making their workplaces truly ‘great’. These companies know that investing in the development needs of their employees has a direct impact on employee wellbeing as well as organisational growth. Congratulations to The Ice Co for making it onto this prestigious list.”

For more information on The Ice Co, visit www.theiceco.co.uk.