Bentley Motors has for the first time become one of a select few organisations nationwide to be named as a Top Employer for 2012.

The annual report, compiled by independent research company,  CRF Institute, described Bentley’s global headquarters in Crewe, Cheshire, as offering  the company’s 4,000 employees “exceptional working conditions”.

Bentley has been recognised for creating a culture where staff are proud to uphold its values and work for the company. Particular attention was given to the Company’s promotion of engineering careers – and the manufacturing sector as a whole – to school and college children. This commitment is made even more visible by the Company’s award-winning graduate and apprenticeship programme.

The recognition comes after a dramatic 37% increase in sales for Bentley in 2011. With 7003 cars sold globally and exciting new models being launched, it is a very busy time for Bentley and for those working for the company.

Christine Gaskell MBE, Member of the Board for Personnel, said:

“Everyone who works at Bentley is proud of the brand. We work hard to ensure the commitment to excellence seen in all our cars is reflected in our commitment to our staff. Achieving this award for the first time proves we are on the right track. One of the things that is unique about Bentley is that all the functions work together on one site in Crewe – from designers to engineers, and sales and marketing professionals. In addition, although we enjoy lots of investment from our parent company, Volkswagen AG, we are still essentially a British company.”

The CRF Institute has completed this year’s research into the HR practices and employee offerings of a large number of employers in the UK.  Only 67 of those organisations met the stringent research criteria and received the Top Employers certification. Bentley scored highest in the area of Career Development.

Eleanor Nickerson, Country Manager, Britain’s Top Employers: “This year we’re proud to certify our strongest group of Top Employers to date. Increasingly we’re seeing creative and intelligent HR practices and employee offerings that ensure the working experience is positive, and that employee groups get what they want from their employment. We’re seeing a heavy emphasis on flexible benefits, on segmented employee offerings and on career development that ensures employee growth and good succession planning.”