We were delighted to present Bidwells with the Pure Award for Employer of the Year at the Cambridge News & Media Business Excellence Awards last night (Thursday 23 March).

The Pure-sponsored Employer of the Year award celebrates the organisation which has successfully engaged its employees by inspiring, motivating, developing and rewarding them. David Culley, Associate Director at Pure, presented Bidwells with the well-deserved accolade at a glittering ceremony held at Kings College and attended by many of the region’s leading businesses.

Bidwells, a property consultancy business first founded nearly 180 years ago, was one of three companies shortlisted in the Employer of the Year category. Following a record number of entries, it was selected as the winner in recognition of the rewarding and engaging workplace it has created for its 270-strong Cambridge team. The organisation has developed an inspiring culture of trust, empowerment and team work. Employees are recognised and rewarded for the role they play in the company’s success and are given clear career progression opportunities; including graduate and apprenticeship programmes. 

David Culley said: “We’re extremely proud to have sponsored this category for the fifth year in a row. At Pure, we support local organisations to source, develop and retain the top talent needed to help achieve organisational growth. This award is a great opportunity to celebrate the companies which are achieving success by putting employees at the heart of the business. Bidwells is an exceptional example of this. The organisation has worked hard to create a fantastic place for people to work and to progress their careers. Employee engagement levels are extremely high across the organisation, there is a consistent focus on staff wellbeing and an inspiring level of support for employees looking to fundraise or volunteer in their local community.

“At a time when we are consistently hearing that the recruitment and retention of high-calibre employees is at the top of the business agenda, Bidwells’ figures speak for themselves. The organisation has a 91 per cent staff retention rate and, on average, employees stay with the company for eight years. It’s people-focussed approach has also generated excellent staff feedback with 92 per cent of employees happy to recommend Bidwells as an employer.”

The annual Business Excellence Awards features a wide range of categories for organisations of all sizes and industries. Other awards also presented on the night included Large Business of the Year, Business Person of the Year and the Award for Outstanding Contribution.

David added: “We would like to congratulate all the winners and finalists. It’s a huge privilege to be a part of this event and to be able to celebrate our region’s exceptional business community.”