Top Yorkshire place for Manning Stainton Estate Agents in Sunday Times Best 100

Sunday Times Managing Editor Richard Caseby (left) presenting the award to Russell Manning.

10th March 2008

For the third consecutive year  Manning Stainton estate agents in Leeds and Wakefield have featured in the Sunday Times Best 100 Companies to Work For in the UK listings.

This year however, they have moved up from the 100 Best Small Companies ranking to the 100 Best Companies list for medium-sized organisations, finishing highly placed in the 20th spot and moving up 34 places from last year’s position.  Just four Yorkshire-based companies were listed and Manning Stainton was the only estate agent in the top 100.

The annual awards represent the biggest survey of workplace opinion and employee engagement in the UK, via confidential questionnaires completed by staff and not seen by directors or managers. Staff rate their companies across a range of criteria including personal growth, well-being, leadership and community involvement and their responses are subject to scrutiny and validation by an outside organisation before publication.

More than 180,000 people were surveyed across 868 companies and
Managing Editor of The Sunday Times, Richard Caseby, in thanking and congratulating the participants, reiterated that all listed companies represent an “enlightened, progressive and enjoyable workplace.”

Manning Stainton’s Managing Director Russell Manning came in for a big vote of confidence from his staff – and with a positive score of 86%, only five company leaders received a more positive response to the question asking whether employees have faith in the person leading the organisation. The rest of the management team also scored highly – in eighth place on the question of living the values of the organisation, and achieving the same position on confidence in management leadership skills.

Sarah Dowthwaite, manager of the Horsforth, Leeds branch, says when she joined Manning Stainton only 25 people were employed there: -
“It’s now grown to almost 300,” she says, “but it still feels like a small company. Even though the job can be stressful sometimes the people we work with are fantastic. And if I’m down about anything I’ll ring Russell or one of the other directors. They’re very approachable and part of the team.”

Manning Stainton handles about a quarter of all house moves in Leeds and Russell Manning says the way for the business to continue moving forward is to do what the company does best and offer an exceptional level of service to its clients.
“This is only possible with a committed and professional workforce which we undoubtedly have” he said.