Rules of attraction

Contractors have traditionally felt they stand apart from the rest of the business world. Everything, from bristling at the advice of automotive boss Sir John Egan to the deep-seated conviction that new manufacturing techniques have nothing to teach construction, points to the belief that 'This Great Industry of Ours' is separate, unique and therefore somehow exempt from the imperatives that influence other sectors.

The fact that Microsoft came first in this year's Sunday Times '100 Best Companies to Work For' league table is bound to make the world 'out there' seem even more remote. Granted, with its monopoly on PC operating systems and a turnover bigger than many small countries, Microsoft is unique. But you don't have to be big, famous and mainstream to get credit for treating staff well. A number of companies went head to head with the Evil Empire for top spot in the survey, and the results make fascinating reading. At 5th place, Bromford Housing Group, a housing agency based in Wolverhampton with 418 staff and a turnover of £37m, trounced Tesco (66th), the biggest on the table by headcount. And Portadown's Ulster Carpets (12th) leaves Marks & Spencer (76th) in the dry goods department.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that construction, which employs about 1.5 million people, making it possibly the largest employer in Britain, was severely underrepresented in the 'Top 100 Best Companies to Work For' table.

For an industry that constantly flagellates itself over its poor image, the Sunday Times 'Top 100 Companies to Work For' represents a missed opportunity to crow about itself.

This year only three contracting organizations appeared on the list. Interior topped the construction league at a resplendent 21st place. This was the office fit-out firm's second appearance and marked a dramatic improvement over last year's placing of 43rd. Mace, a Top-100 virgin in 2003, made its debut at a creditable 50th place. And Kier Group, moved up three rungs from 2002 and landed comfortably in 72nd spot.

Consultancies made a slightly better showing: Arup (29), FaberMaunsell (56), Mott MacDonald (86), Jones Laing LaSalle (88) Black & Veatch Consulting (89) and Parkman Group (96).

we were miffed when we didn’t appear on the list. We’ll certainly enter next year

Vaughan BUrnand, MD, Shepherd Construction

So why didn't more construction companies get on the list? A straw poll of selected major contractors showed that the 'Best Companies to Work For' table didn't appear on many radars. A Bovis spokesperson thought it cost £10,000 to enter. (It doesn't.) An HBG spokesperson said they didn't find out in time, but if they had, the company would have done well. The Skanska spokesperson had never even heard of it.

Positive loop
Only Vaughan Burnand, MD of Shepherd Construction, was kicking himself. "We were miffed when we didn't appear on the last one. Then we realised you could nominate yourself. We'll certainly be entering next year," he said.

Some construction companies appeared last year but not this year: Simons Group (77), MJ Gleeson (53) and Westbury (90). Simons Group Personnel Manager Ian Shaw said his company opted out in 2003 because the 2002 adjudication process triggers a lot of feedback about the company, and he wanted to take time out to make improvements, such as work-life balance and removing barriers to promotion.

Whatever the reasons for not entering the competition, the ones who did bother, and who placed in the top 100 (out of around 200 that made it through the final adjudication process) are making the most of it. Have you noticed on Asda shopping bags the startling claim that it's the best place to work in Britain? They won last year. Winners can also use the Top 100 logo all they like. They receive detailed feedback on what their staff think about them. For the ones who can take the information, this amounts to free HR consulting. Mace, Interior, Kier and Simons Group report serious benefits in taking part, from a flurry of applications to credible boast material at the pre-qualification stage.

If construction companies bothered to enter, they'd stand shoulder to shoulder with banks, legal firms, retailers, and all the other sectors construction competes with for new blood.

Ian Shaw of Simons Group admits contractors are cajoled into signing up to a plethora of schemes and awards. But he supports this one.