TGI Friday’s one of UK's top three companies to work for

Fridays had already received an ‘extraordinary’ rating from Best Companies Accreditation 2013.

In the voting process, employees ranked Friday’s especially high for My Team (85%), My Manager (82%) and for Leadership (83%). The scores in My Team and My Manager were beaten by just one other organisation.

Importantly for the restaurant industry, where staff turnover is a major issue, Friday's came out top for job security. Staff gave the company an 86% positive score, beating every other firm on Best Companies to Work For 2013 list.

Workers also said they felt a strong sense of “family” in their teams (87%), and that working with their colleagues gives them a real “buzz” (84%). Both of these scores are again beaten by just one other company.

Staff also said their managers were “excellent role models” and felt motivated to give their best everyday (both top scores of 81%). Similarly, they said they had confidence in their managers’ leadership skills (86%, again ranking first nationwide).

The annual survey is informed by feedback from team members that work for the individual companies across the UK.  Recognising the strong culture and passionate team in place at Friday’s 55 UK restaurants, the Sunday Times praised the brand on numerous fronts, highlighting in particular the excellent leadership and examples set by those within the company, from waiters and waitresses right up to the board directors.

Friday’s success is the result of a new people-led strategy introduced by UK managing director Karen Forrester, hightlighted in the current issue of Peach Report. See Forrester leads Friday's out of the woods

Initiatives introduced have led to team turnover currently running at a low 40 per cent – compared to a hospitality industry average of 90 per cent.  In addition the company currently has the highest turnover-per-site of any restaurant chain in the UK and is enjoying 16 quarters of successive growth. 

Friday’s is opening six new restaurants in the UK this year, creating an additional 600 jobs. 

Karen Forrester said: “2013 is set to be a huge year for Friday’s, so it is brilliant to be able to kick things off with such high-profile award wins. We’re so proud of the culture at Friday’s, it really is something that you can see and feel in every restaurant across the country - and is at the heart of making Friday’s a great place to work.  I attribute the success to the people, happy and well-engaged people do a great job.