Saint-Gobain has been recognised as one of Britain's Top Employers 2013 following independent research carried out by the CRF Institute, which identifies and pays tribute to companies that offer employees outstanding career opportunities and working conditions.

The CRF Institute reviewed the HR policies and practices of a large number of employers and Saint-Gobain was one of a select number of organisations awarded Britain's Top Employer 2013 certification.

Organisations were assessed against a number of criteria including: primary benefits, secondary benefits and working conditions, training and development, career development and culture management, with the accolade awarded to those who set a precedent across these areas.

Peter Hindle, general delegate for Saint-Gobain UK, Ireland and South Africa, said: "I am really pleased that Britain's Top Employers 2013 recognises the things that we do well and can be proud of. We know that we still have work to do, but this recognition gives an indication of the progress we have made towards creating a sustainable organisation. In the UK we employ over 16,000 staff, and their development and wellbeing is vitally important to us."

Eleanor Nickerson, manager of UK operations for the CRF Institute, said: "The economy has been tough for the UK during the last year, but we've consistently seen our certified Top Employers showing that they value their talent by ensuring they have outstanding employee offerings in place. We've also seen a shift towards more coaching, mentoring and training, as employers seek to ensure they develop employees and that attractive opportunities are in place for them. We have seen a wide range of creative initiatives, from secondary benefits and working conditions, to performance-management programmes that are well thought-out and truly aligned with the culture of each company."