Further proof that working hard to create a cleaner, safer Wales can lead to a happy and motivated staff came this week with the announcement that environmental campaigners Keep Wales Tidy were amongst only 4 Welsh companies to appear in the coveted Sunday Times ‘100 Best Small Companies to Work For in the UK’ list, which was compiled from staff surveys of 964 companies.

Earlier this month Keep Wales Tidy was amongst only 9 Welsh companies to have achieved a two star rating in the UK wide Best Companies survey. Twenty companies from Wales received accreditation, receiving ratings ranging from ‘ones to watch’ to one, two or three stars.

A record 1,086 organisations from the private and public sector applied to be assessed for inclusion in the 2010 list, which follows a Michelin star style scoring system, one star being awarded for first class performance and two stars for outstanding performance.

Only 140 companies and organisations throughout the UK achieved two star status and 220 achieved one star status.

Special mention was made of Keep Wales Tidy’s commitment to ‘putting a lot into the community’. A result only bettered by just four other organisations in the list of 1,086 companies.

Many of the companies listed had staffing levels of over 100 compared to the 59 employed by Keep Wales Tidy in offices at Cardiff, Caernarfon, Pembroke and home based staff. The top rated company boasted a staff complement of 196 and sales of £114 million.

The news came as no surprise to Lesley Jones whose first day as the organisation’s new Chief Executive coincided with the announcement. She commented."I have long admired the work being carried out by Keep Wales Tidy in every corner of Wales and I am totally committed to ensuring that the organisation’s well deserved recognition is built upon.

She added."I realise that I will have to utilize all my experience to ensure that the organisation I now head continues to be a leader in its field and like all my committed staff I will give my 100% effort to ensure that our vision of a Clean, Safe and Tidy Wales is achieved."

Notes to Editors

1. For further information please contact Wynne Williams, Communications Manager, Keep Wales Tidy Tel 029 2972 6993 or mobile 07824 504791
2. Keep Wales Tidy is a registered Environmental Charity working for the improvement of Wales’ local environments. More information about Keep Wales Tidy can be found on www.keepwalestidy.org
3. For further information on the Sunday Times Best 100 Small Companies to Work For http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/career_and_jobs/best_100_companies