Retail giant makes top five in best big companies to work for list
On top of some great financial results this year, Cardfactory has made it into the top five in the UK’s Best Big Companies To Work For 2023 list – jumping 10 places in the league table since last year.
“This is a big deal,” the greetings retail giant that employs 8,154 staff across its 1,047 UK locations said in its LinkedIn post following the awards ceremony on Thursday, 2 November, “and the achievement recognises our commitment to our colleagues and demonstrates the importance of engagement when it comes to our success.”
Proud of the “huge improvement” taking the company to fifth place from 15th in the same list last year, the post added: “It’s a true reflection of the dedication and hard work that all colleagues put into making Cardfactory the best it can be. We’re so thrilled to be recognised for our efforts and all that went into making this happen.”
And customer director Brian Waring added: “Another proud moment at Cardfactory!” over the result in the Best Companies’ league table which saw insurance group Admiral win this year, with Hobbycraft second, while The Works dropped down to 15th.
The league tables were revealed at the Best Companies’ big night at the Evolution London event venue in Battersea Park, hosted by BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker.
In the best retailer to work for overall table, Beaverbrooks jewellers again placed top, with Cardfactory moving up from 16th to sixth while The Works came in at 12, and stationery and card retailer Papier – which just a couple of weeks ago revealed it had entered the wholesale market through an exclusive deal with Selfridges and is also selling to indie retailers through online marketplace Faire – is at 17.
Having marked its own 25th anniversary last year, profits at Cardfactory, which says its purpose is to make sharing in and celebrating life’s moments special and accessible for everyone, soared 72.7% to £24.7million in the greeting card retail giant’s half-year results released in September.
Featured workplace factors making staff happy include that 43% agreeing they’re paid fairly for the work they do relative to others in the company – and there’s a 15% staff discount scheme, reduced prices on a range of goods and services including holidays, mobile phone contracts, and shopping, plus at least 28 days’ annual leave.
For 74% of staff work is an important part of their life, and the colleague connection days have proved a great success encouraging people to get into the office and reconnect with those they may not have seen for a while, with activities, food vans providing meals, and skips to clear out the office space.
Through its charitable arm, Card Factory Foundation, the company has raised more than £7million for Macmillan Cancer Support since 2006, it is the lead sponsor of the Wakefield 10k event, and has been supporting Wakefield Hospice for the past four years, where staff help sort stock in the warehouse or undertake gardening work.
Jen Lawrence, the retailer’s executive director people and transformation, said: “We are committed to listening to our colleagues so we can make Cardfactory the best place to work for everyone.
“The Best Companies survey allows us to learn more about what we’re doing well and what we should change so we can continuously improve.”
And, with Cardfactory having been an accredited Best Companies business for six years, she added: “We’ve evolved over time in response to the survey results as it’s important that we not only listen, but act.”
