FirstGroup, the largest transport provider in the UK, scooped two prestigious prizes at the 2011 Employee Benefits Awards ceremony which took place in London earlier this month.
First beat stiff competition to claim top spot in the prestigious ‘Most Effective Benefits Strategy’ award for a large employer and the highly coveted ‘Employee Benefits Professional of the Year’ award, which went to First’s Reward and Pension Director, John Chilman.
First was also highly commended in the ‘Benefits Team of the Year’ category.
The national awards recognise employers that have made a significant difference to their organisations through their reward and pension strategies.
John Chilman, FirstGroup’s Reward and Pension Director, said:
“I’m delighted that the great work of our Reward & Pension team has received widespread recognition once again.
“The team has developed a benefits package that is valuable and wide ranging, producing benefits for both colleagues and the company, and the awards provide independent recognition of this.”
The judges were particularly impressed by the wide choice of benefits the company offers and its innovative approach, including the My Rewards website used by employees to buy discounted staff travel tickets, view share scheme benefits as well as check and update personal details.
This is the most recent recognition for First’s Reward and Pensions Team.
In 2010 the company picked up the award for the ‘Most Effective All-employee Share Scheme Strategy’ for a large employer at the Employee Benefits Awards and Most Effective Communication of an Employee Share Plan at the ifsProShare Awards.
In the previous year, First’s Reward & Pensions team won the ‘Benefits Team of the Year’ award and its pension scheme was recognised as Pension Scheme of the Year at both the Professional Pensions Awards and FT Business Awards and the ‘Best Investment Strategy’ at the Engaged Investor Trustee Awards.
