Sunday Times Top 100

DEVON LANDOWNERS CELEBRATE THREE STAR SUCCESS IN SUNDAY TIMES TOP 100 LIST

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Clinton Devon Estates, one of the South West's largest landowning companies, has been told it's among the best companies to work for in Britain and the very best nationally for its efforts to protect the environment.

The company has achieved the top accolade (3* status) as part of the Best Companies Accreditation 2008 and is one of only 48 organisations to achieve this grade. The Sunday Times Top 100 Companies To Work For in the UK is based on the Best Companies research and the results for small companies are published today (March 2nd).

Each year Best Companies and the Sunday Times celebrate the best small, mid-size and big workplaces in the UK. Employees from participating organisations are surveyed based on a rigorous methodology. This enables Best Companies to compile and The Sunday Times to publish its annual authoritative list.

As part of this year's assessment, staff were asked to rate their company's efforts to protect the environment. With a 92% score, Clinton Devon Estates' has secured top position nationally. It has also been ranked third best in Britain in the category of Giving Something Back as a result of working closely with local communities and providing affordable housing.

According to John Varley, Estates Director of Clinton Devon Estates: "This is a fantastic achievement - we have always been proud of our record as an ethical company with the highest standards of people management and this recognition is a marvellous boost for our team.

"To be recognised for our efforts in protecting the environment and putting something back into society is a great accolade. Clinton Devon Estates is very proud of its heritage and places great importance on protecting and enhancing the countryside and communities here in Devon.

"Once the celebrations are over, we won't just be sitting on our laurels - we have asked for a full breakdown of the data collected in this survey so we can see if we build on this success and make even more improvements in future."

The Best Companies research is carried out using a company questionnaire and an employee survey, the marks are based on how highly a workforce rates the company in eight key areas: -

Leadership - How employees feel about the head of the organisation, senior managers, and the company's values and principles.

My Manager - How employees feel about and communicate with their direct manager.

Personal Growth - What employees feel about training and their future prospects.

Wellbeing - How employees feel about stress, pressure at work, and work life balance.

My Team - Employees feelings towards their immediate colleagues and how well they work together.

Giving Something Back -The extent to which employees feel their organisation has a positive impact on society.

My Company -The level of engagement employees have for their job and organisation.

Fair Deal -How happy employees are with their pay and benefits.

According to John Varley, "Clinton Devon Estates scored extremely highly in the "Giving Something Back" category. We feel this is a very fitting result for the Estates which have such a deep commitment to responsible stewardship, provision of public amenities and support for local communities."

Clinton Devon Estates has 75 full and part time local employees who work in various farming and forestry enterprises including the Beer and Clinton Estates in East Devon and the Heanton Estate in North Devon. It also encompasses four business parks, residential property holdings plus a number of small businesses and a portfolio of commercial property investments across the South West.

In total 653 British companies applied to achieve "Star Status" - 307 were awarded stars, only 48 have been awarded 3* status.

COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE CLINTON DEVON ESTATES TEAM

CLARE JAMES (Assistant Land Agent /worked for CDE for 6 years) "There are a number of advantages in working for Clinton Devon Estates - they are very fair employers, it's good to work for a family business and in a land based environment. The work is always varied and rewarding - you really feel that you can see tangible results in terms of impact on the environment and the community."

GRAHAM VANSTONE (Assistant Accountant/worked for CDE for 30 years) "I enjoy working for a company which really puts something back into to the local area - providing jobs, homes and major benefits for the economy. It would be easy for these big estates to just sit back and do things the way they've always been done but Clinton is very forward thinking - always looking at new ways of doing things which can keep this part of the world as a viable place to live and work. I think it is quite unique."

JOHN WILDING (Forestry Manager/worked for CDE for 10 years) "I work in woodland management which is a very long term affair and this is a family business which thinks in the long term when it comes to stewardship of its land and assets. In UK forestry we have species which take 50 to 80 years to mature. Clinton Devon Estates have been in forestry for 400 years and understand the time scales involved, a rare thing in the modern business world.

"Clinton is also about diversity - these forests are not just for timber production but also for wildlife and public recreation. I work within a team of people who manage different facets of the business including farmland and heathland yet we all work together under the Clinton umbrella which is a great benefit in creating a diverse environment for wildlife and people."

TOM GARNER (Estate Ranger/worked for CDE for 4 years) "When I came into this job, Clinton Devon Estates really tried to bring what I do into the 21st century. They've provided everything I have asked for in terms of training courses and equipment. The company has really invested in me and my job.

"I work in deer management which is a rapidly changing field but here at Clinton Devon Estates we always try to stay up to date with the latest practices and regulations. The company is also open to diversification - these days we sell venison and stalking. The management team is always ready to consider new and better ways of doing things."