Companies from the travel, insurance, property, banking, communications and retail sectors were the big winners at the 2014 annual ifs ProShare Awards.
All were commended for their contribution to fostering employee share ownership in what has been a busy year for mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings and IPOs.
Among the big winners on the night were TLC Marketing for their efforts in fostering employee share ownership among SMEs, in the category “Best commitment to employee share ownership for small companies with fewer than 250 employees” and Henderson Global Investors, TalkTalk and BT for their performance in the “Fostering employee share ownership” categories.
Other winners included Saga, who won in the “Best new share plan” category, DS Smith, who took home the “Best international share plan” award and TSB, who, following its split from the Lloyds Banking Group, succeeded in the “best employee share plan following a major corporate change” award.
Once again, the awards attracted many practitioners and professionals, with more than 400 representatives of companies, advisers and administrators joining the celebrations, hosted by raconteur Gyles Brandreth, at the prestigious Grand Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden.
Commenting on the winning entries, Alan Scott, Head of Employee Share Ownership at ifs ProShare said:
“The past year has seen continued interest and growth in employee share ownership and this is reflected in the record number, and quality, of the entries we have received. Indeed, it was especially pleasing to see entries from new companies in a wide range of businesses, including those from the technology, banking, property and entertainment industries.
“2014 marks the 22nd year of the ifs ProShare awards. The long-lasting nature of these Awards serves as a useful reminder of the high levels of commitment, determination, innovation and dedication that have been demonstrated by companies, administrators and advisers throughout this period.
We congratulate all those who either won or were shortlisted for an award and celebrate the tremendous achievements of the share plan community as a whole”
Full list of winners and commended finalists:
Best new share plan: Saga
Best international share plan: DS Smith
Most effective communication of an employee share plan (up to 1,000 employees): Land Securities
Most effective communication (1,001 to 15,000 employees):
Amadeus IT Holdings SA
Commended: International Personal Finance
Most effective communication (15,001 + employees):
Joint winners: Asda and SKY
Best commitment to employee share ownership for small companies with fewer than 250 employees: TLC Marketing Worldwide
Best employee share plan following a major corporate change: TSB
Commended: Royal Mail
Most effective use of technology: BT
Best overall performance in fostering employee share ownership (Up to 1,000 employees): Henderson Global Investors
Best overall performance in fostering employee share ownership (1,001 – 15,000 employees): TalkTalk
Best overall performance in fostering employee share ownership (15,001+ employees): BT
Steff joined the HRreview editorial team in November 2014. A former event coordinator and manager, Steff has spent several years working in online journalism. She is a graduate of Middlessex University with a BA in Television Production and will complete a Master's degree in Journalism from the University of Westminster in the summer of 2015.