Exceptional employers have been celebrated today as Working Families, the UK’s national charity for working parents and carers, announced the winners of the 2023 Best Practice Awards. The annual awards, taking place at Vintners’ Hall in London, give deserved recognition to pioneering employers whose standout cultures and working practices are blazing a trail for flexible and employee-friendly workplaces.

This year has seen an exceptional quality of entries, as organisations across sectors and sizes have risen to the challenges faced after the pandemic, during a cost-of-living crisis. The winners have all gone above and beyond for the parents and carers in their workforce, and demonstrate that from large financial institutions to small businesses, any organisation can build flexibility and family-friendly support into their job roles.

The winning organisations are:

• Best for Mothers
WINNER: bp
• Best for Fathers - sponsored by Babbu
WINNER: Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
• Best for Carers & Eldercare
WINNER: Phoenix Group
• Best Family Network - sponsored by BlckBx
WINNER: Citigroup
• Best for Mental Health & Wellbeing - sponsored by Investors in People
WINNER: Bank of Ireland
COMMENDED: Mills & Reeve LLP
• Best Small Employer
WINNER: Independent Living Fund Scotland
• Best for Supporting Fertility and Pathways to Parenthood
WINNER: Nationwide Building Society
COMMENDED: British Army
• Best for Flexible Recruitment
WINNER: British Society for Rheumatology
• Best for Flexible Working - sponsored by Arnold Clark
WINNER: Reuben Sinclair

Jane van Zyl, Chief Executive of Working Families said: “We’re thrilled to have had so many impressive entries to select from this year. A massive congratulations to our finalists, who come from across the board but who are all leading the way in creating supportive working cultures and showing what successful flexible working can look like.

“It’s so encouraging that, as we emerge from the pandemic, so many employers are responding to the evidence that flexibility doesn’t just work, it can work better. Our remarkable finalists are helping to highlight the benefits of family-friendly policies and cultures for everyone. They have found solutions that work both for the employees and the business, and are reaping the rewards of a more productive, more engaged workforce.”

The final winners of each Award category are judged by an expert panel. The judging process for the Awards is anonymous; with none of the judges knowing the identity of the companies that they are judging.