We are absolutely delighted to announce that we have made it onto this years accredited list of 187 best medium sized places to work ‘Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025’,  the UK’s biggest survey of employee engagement.

 

We are especially proud that our unique ‘Bee Well Strategy’ was recognised as having a positive impact on our staff wellbeing. Offering a variety of support to all our staff, it is at the heart of everything we do.  Bee Well was formed from a simple belief: if we take care of our people, our people will take care of everything else and our mantra ‘Happy staff deliver: Happy pupils achieve’.  Here is what the Sunday Times say about St Damian’s;

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“Happy staff deliver” is the mantra of this mixed comprehensive in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester. Despite being located in one of the most deprived areas of the UK, morale is high among the 73 staff thanks to initiatives such as St Damian’s Bee Well strategy, which includes reducing workload and a weekly post-school gathering with physical and practical workshops. Regular social events boost team spirit and the internal awards scheme makes people feel appreciated.

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The Sunday Times in partnership with the leading employee experience platform, WorkL, showcasing the Best Places to Work in the UK. This nationwide workplace survey honours and celebrates the UK’s top employers - which number over 500 organisations across industries and scale - and highlights the best workplaces for women, the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled employees, ethnic minorities, younger and older workers, as well as those that provide the best wellbeing support. For the first time, this year's survey also highlights the Best Places to Work in seven industry sectors: Business & Management Services, Hospitality, Technology, Construction & Building Materials’ Financial Services’ Marketing & Advertising and Non-Profit & Charities.

 

Zoe Thomas, editor of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work, said: "The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list is the UK’s biggest survey of employee engagement, compiled in partnership with workplace expert WorkL. Spanning a raft of sectors and located throughout the UK, the organisations in this year’s list range from innovative start-ups with a handful of employees to big multinational corporations staffed by thousands. These organisations know that happy employees are the superpower helping them thrive.”

 

You can view the full list here