Hannah Fox BSc MRICS

Survey Consultant

• Devise, disseminate, collate and analyse

– Employee Survey

– Employer Questionnaire

• Select Good Employers

My Role

• Methodology used to compile the Good

Employer Guide

• Insight into emerging trends based on

survey results

This Afternoon

• Selection of participating companies

• Employee Survey

• Employer Questionnaire

• Selecting Good Employers

Methodology

• UK based

• Focus within the construction sector

• Consultant, house builder, general or

specialist contractor etc.

• Over 30 staff members in non-support roles

Registration

• Slant towards construction industry & a more

exciting employment environment

• Appreciation of current economic climate

• Direct e-mail to selected sample

• Anonymity upheld

• 45 set statements

• Strength of feeling - 5 point response

Employee Survey

• Social Responsibility

• Smarter Working

• Feel Good Factor

• Leadership

• Inspiration

• Ability to Contribute

• Current Market Conditions

Survey Categories

• Aggregated 5 point scale

• Elimination of companies with:

– less than 50% return rates

– less than 30 responses

– overall score less than the benchmark

– one or more category scores below the benchmark

Scoring responses

• Company details – address, url etc.

• Main spheres of operation & USP

• Corporate statistics and employee

demographics

• Benefits package on offer to staff

• Changes over past year

Employer Questionnaire

Responses

Statements towards the top –

• My company take its Health and Safety obligations

very seriously

• My manager is very understanding when personal

issues make demands on my work time

• The quality of work produced by this company is

something of which I am very proud

Responses

Statements towards the bottom –

• My company makes significant positive

contribution to local communities

• I think I am well remunerated for the work I

do and the responsibilities I have

• I have flexible working hours

Trends

Highest movers – up

• The quality of work produced by this company is

something of which I am very proud

• The quality of projects in which the company is

involved is something of which I am very proud

Trends

Biggest movers – down

• I am rarely given the opportunity to make my contribution

to decisions that affect me

• Senior managers communicate with the staff, enabling

me to play a part in my company's success

• This company encourages a positive and open

communications culture that encourages staff to express

themselves freely

Trends

In General

• Contractors and Architects scored slightly

higher than the average

• Small & Medium sized companies score

higher than large companies

Demographics

Average age of youngest equity partner:

2009 2008 2007

Consultant / QS : 38 34 35

Engineer : 41 38 39

Contractor : 41.5 39 40

Architect : 42.5 40 41

Demographics

Average Percentage

of female non-support staff

’09 ’08 ‘07

Contractor : 8% 7% 7%

Engineer : 11% 11% 15%

Consultant / QS: 14% 15% 13%

Architect : 22.5% 28% 24%

Average Number

of female equity partners (2008):

<1 (<1)

2 (2)

<1 (3)

1.5 (1)

Benefits

Maximum number days paid holiday after 5 year of service (average):

2009 2008 2007

Engineer 25 days 25 26

Contractor 26.5days 26 27

Architect 25 days 26 27

Consultant / QS 27 days 28 27

Benefits

Average training hours / head (non-support):

2009 2008 2007

Engineer 58 hrs* 35 32

Contractor 29 hrs 28 36

Architect 44 hrs 40 44

Consultant / QS 38 hrs 32 30

Employee care

 

Architect (13of) 60% 25% 20%

Consultant / QS (18of)

25% 50% 55%

Engineer (11of) 45% 30% 40%

Contractor (10of) 40% 20% 20%

Flexi - time/ part time

work

Maternity benefit

significantly above statutory

Paternity benefit

significantly above statutory

Shrinkage

Of Top 50

• Engineers: 75% by av. 13%

• Architects: 65% by av. 16%

• Consultant / QS: 56% by av. 8.3%

• Contractor: 40% by av. 10%

But…

• The majority of categories include one or

more firms that have had to shed staff in

the last year.

• In all top 5’s by size or core business there

are firms that have similarly shed staff.

Learn More

Results Summary Sheets

• Individual company feedback

• Statements ranked in order of scores

• Category scores

• Comparison with the average & sector average

• Comparison with previous year

• Greater explanation. Simpler format

THANK YOUThank You

Top 5 – Small Firms

• Apex – Specialist contractor

• Architecture plb

• Henderson Green – Consultant / Engineer

• LSI Architects

• Maber Architects

Top 5 – Medium Firms

• AA Projects - Consultant / QS - PM

• Keegans – Consultant / QS - PM

• John Rowan & Partners - Consultant / QS - PM

• Hannah Reed – Consultant / Engineer

• P+HS – Consultant / Architect

Top 5 – Large Firms

• Gelder Group – Main Contractor

• Gentoo Construction - Main Contractor

• Leadbitter Group - Main Contractor

• Mace – Consultant / Construction

• Willmott Dixon - Main Contractor