Three Chiswick workplaces belong to companies judged to be the ‘Best in Britain’ to work for

Côte brasserie, Turnham Green Terrace

Childbase Partnership, Côte Restaurants and Hotel Chocolat make The Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Work’ list

Staff at three workplaces in Chiswick have discovered they work for companies that are considered to be some of best organisations to work for in the country.

Childbase Partnership, parent company of Devonshire Day Nursery in Bennett St, and Côte Restaurants, with a branch on Turnham Green Terrace, both appear in the  Top Ten of The Sunday Times ‘Best Places to Work‘ list, just published.

Other in the top ten include the AA, Burger King UK and David Lloyd Clubs.

Hotel Chocolat, which has a shop at 208 Chiswick High Rd., also featured in the longer list of 26 ‘very big’ organisations (firms with 2,000 + employees).

 Devonshire Day Nursery

Devonshire Day Nursery – ‘Everybody can grow’

Explaining why they chose Childbase Partnership for a place in their Top Ten, The Sunday Times team wrote:

‘Everybody can grow at this Newport Pagnell nursery group. The employee-owned organisation, which runs 44 nurseries, launched its Training Academy of Excellence in 2021 to nurture homegrown talent through apprenticeships and offers 85 training courses to support professional development.

‘The 2,524 staff share in the financial success of the company based on hours worked. Other perks include up to 20 extra days off a year through its Partnership Reward Days and childcare discounts of 75 per cent for parents and 40 per cent for grandparents.’

Childbase Partnership also came top of the Nursery World league table for good nurseries in March.

READ ALSO: Chiswick nursery comes top of the league table

Manager Emmy Avery told The Chiswick Calendar:

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be in the Top Ten. We have been in it for quite a few years actually. It’s based on a survey which staff take part in anonymously and all our staff here took part. I feel it’s important for them to have their say, good or bad.

“But it’s great because happy staff mean happy children and happy parents.”

Côte brasserie, Turnham Green Terrace

Côte introduced a programme ‘to guide staff on their professional journeys’

Describing the benefits of working for Côte Restaurants, which put the French restaurant chain in the Top Ten, The Sunday Times team wrote:

‘A new platter of learning opportunities is on the menu at this London-based nationwide French restaurant chain.

‘After staff feedback revealed an appetite for more career development, Côte launched a series of workshops to help team members prepare for management roles and introduced a programme to guide staff on their professional journeys.’

The company also offers up to 100% discount on food and drink to its 2,446 staff.

Manager Oswin Fernandez told us:

“It is an amazing place to work. We have a good work-life balance, we’re paid fairly – they distribute the tips amongst all of us – and we enjoy it, especially with all the lovely people who come into the Chiswick restaurant.”

Hotel Chocolat – ‘Generous discounts on its products’

Hotel Chocolat ‘hits the sweet spot for its 2,300 staff with perks including generous discounts on its products and vouchers at Christmas and Easter.

‘Founded in 1993 by Angus Thirlwell and Peter Harris and sold to Mars early last year, Hotel Chocolat celebrated record Christmas sales and announced plans in January to open 27 new stores this year, including two in America. Development initiatives include a training scheme for line managers.’

Nicola, who has worked at Hotel Chocolat Chiswick for four years, told us:

“It is a very good place to work. It’s the best place I’ve ever worked.”

Why? “Because of the staff and the atmosphere, and the company is very understanding. It’s a good place for students to work because if you have exams they let you swap your shifts round.”

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar