A COLCHESTER-based care provider has gained recognition for the way it helps team members to learn and develop their skills.

Care UK, based in Highwoods, was awarded the bronze medal in the UK Employee Experience Awards under the Employee Training and Development category for its commitment to all colleagues in developing a fulfilling career through clear career ladders, comprehensive inductions, a diverse range of apprenticeships and innovative development programmes.

The awards are open to all types of business and Care UK shares the top three slots with the bank TSB and the London and North East Railway company.

Care UK was the only social care provider to win in this year’s Employee Experience Awards.

Gazette:

This is the second year Care UK’s commitment to its employees has been recognised at the same awards - in 2020 it picked up a silver award in the Best Company to Work For category.

Care UK’s Human resources director Leah Queripel said: “We are incredibly proud to have our approach to developing our colleagues recognised in this way.

"We have a strong ‘grow your own’ ethos and a great many of our home managers and directors have developed their career paths from team member through to their current senior role thanks to the development opportunities we offer.

“I truly believe that this recognition reflects the fact that society is finally realising that social care offers a great career for people who want to learn valuable skills as well as make a difference to the lives of older people.

"And, for those who aspire to climb a career ladder to a very senior level, we can help people to make that happen through our leadership development programmes."

Care UK cares for about 6,500 residents, mostly older people, many living with dementia and it has more care homes rated as Outstanding than any other provider.

The awards are one of the most rigorously judged employee experience awards in the country with at least five independent judges per category and each entry is scored at least ten times.

Other shortlisted employers in the 2021 awards included airlines, banks, universities, motor manufacturers and insurance companies.