An employee-owned Cumbrian business has been rated one of the UK’s best workplaces for women.
WCF has been named in the top 100 large businesses in the Best Workplaces for Women list following independent analysis of anonymous employee feedback.
The achievement places the firm among the UK’s leading employers of its size.
Headquartered in Brampton, WCF is a diverse family of businesses spanning retail, logistics and leisure, with more than 370 employees working across more than 25 locations nationwide.
Its operations range from national mail order shopping brands, three five-star camping and glamping sites, oil distribution, WCF Pet & Equestrian retail stores, and e-commerce businesses which offer garden and landscaping products.
Karen Kelso, head of people strategy at WCF, said the achievement was rooted in the firm’s commitment to representation at all levels, flexible working, and wellbeing initiatives.
She said: “WCF’s inclusion on the Best Workplaces for Women list reflects the culture we’ve worked hard to build across the business.
“Women are represented at all levels, including senior/ executive leadership roles. We’re committed to providing opportunities for colleagues to develop, progress and build rewarding careers with us.
“We support colleagues through flexible ways of working where operationally possible, with a strong focus on wellbeing, and learning and development opportunities that help people grow throughout their careers. Wellbeing is a priority for WCF and is central to our ambition of maintaining a great culture for all colleagues.
“Since the survey period, we’ve also introduced enhanced family-friendly policies and a menopause policy, demonstrating our commitment to listening to colleagues and evolving our people offering.
“As an employee-owned business, we’re proud of the inclusive and supportive culture we’ve created. We’re delighted to see that reflected in this recognition.”
The recognition by Great Place to Work follows WCF being named in the top 100 Best Workplaces for large businesses earlier this year.
Employees taking part in the Great Place to Work survey are asked to share their experiences of workplace culture including trust, leadership effectiveness and employee experience.
Eighty-five per cent of the Best Workplaces for Women ranking is based on what women report about their workplace, and how fairly those experiences compare to men’s reports of the same workplace.
The survey also analyses women’s representation at all levels of the workforce, relative to each organisation’s size and workforce make-up.
