Social Enterprise P3 wins number one spot in The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work for in the UK

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6th March 2010

P3, the social inclusion charity and social enterprise, has taken top spot in The Sunday Times 2010 Best Mid-Sized Company to Work For list. The winning position, which will be formally announced on 7th March, has been awarded to P3 following a record number of applications to the competition.

P3 provides a range of support services to the most at risk people and prides itself on offering successful and lasting routes out of social exclusion and homelessness. P3 has scored consistently well in The Sunday Times’ listings since 2007, when it won first place in the small company’s category.

As well as overall winner of the category, P3 also scored the lowest levels of stress (88 per cent) and the highest number of employees who did not feel taken advantage of (83 per cent) of the top 100 on the list.

Martin Kinsella, Chief Executive of P3 and a Social Enterprise Ambassador comments: “P3 is immensely proud to be named number one in The Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For list 2010. P3’s move from the small, to mid-sized category illustrates that a social enterprise can achieve consistent growth alongside employee happiness.

“The people who work for P3 do it because they enjoy it and because they want to make a positive difference to people’s lives and the communities they work in. We are a strong business and have a professional approach to the work that we do; the difference is that our profits are reinvested into the company, ensuring more benefit from our work.”

Despite the economic downturn, P3 has consistently invested in staff development and wellbeing; this is evident in the company’s growth levels and staff retention rate.

Pauline Milligan, Programme Manager of the Social Enterprise Ambassadors programme comments: “I’m delighted to see P3 take first place in the prestigious Sunday Times’ list; at a time when so many people are suffering from the economic downturn, it’s great that a social enterprise which supports so many gets the recognition it deserves.

“Social enterprises repeatedly demonstrate their ability to deliver high quality, good value services whilst being outstanding employers; and this award is testament to the fantastic work P3 does supporting not only clients but staff too.”

Stan, a P3 client based in the West Midlands added his voice to the congratulations: “I’m made up that P3 has achieved this award. It really goes to show that if managers support, value and appreciate their staff, ultimately, clients receive a quality and fab service. Well done!”

Notes to editors

P3’s vision is to give people the practical skills and self esteem that they need to sustain an independent and self sufficient lifestyle by providing opportunities and support that help vulnerable people move on from social exclusion to inclusion.

P3 offers successful and lasting routes out of social exclusion and homelessness by operating a variety of effective services as well as creating opportunities for vulnerable and disadvantaged people. It helps to overcome the challenges that the public sector can no longer tackle alone in creating positive outcomes to people at a real risk of social exclusion.

The company is over 30 years old and works in some of the most deprived areas of the UK with some of the most at risk groups in our society.

Its support hundreds of people every day to take control of their lives and move towards social inclusion and healthy positive lifestyles.

P3 delivers a wide range of award winning services for people.

Social enterprises are dynamic businesses with social and environmental aims. Well known examples include The Big Issue, Cafédirect and Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen, but there are many other social enterprises operating in a wide range of industries from farmers markets and recycling companies to transport and childcare providers.

The Social Enterprise Ambassadors are inspiring social entrepreneurs who are raising awareness about social enterprise through events, interviews, blogs and other means. The programme is funded by the Office of the Third Sector in the Cabinet Office and led by the Social Enterprise Coalition.

www.socialenterpriseambassadors.org.uk.

For further enquiries please contact Luka Winterborne on 01895 462026, Out of hours – 07984 147511, email – luka.winterborne@p3charity.org