Eagle Radio Has Some of the Happiest Workers

Published on: 5 Mar, 2013
Updated on: 5 Mar, 2013

Local radio station Eagle Radio’s parent group UKRD Ltd has scored a hat-trick of success by topping the Sunday Times ‘Best Companies to Work For’ charts for the third consecutive year.

In a Sunday Times survey, some of Britain’s happiest workers, it would seem, ranked the group first in five of eight categories (My Manager, Leadership, My Company, Personal Growth and My Team).

Making money, enjoying themselves and changing people’s lives are all in a day’s work for the 275 employees at UKRD, the fourth largest commercial radio operator in the country, which owns and runs 17 radio stations across England, from Redruth in Cornwall to Sunderland in the North-east and includes Eagle Radio and its ‘education station’, Eagle Extra, here in Surrey.

UKRD, which also develops software and a number of websites, gets the highest results for 37 of the 70 questions in the survey, including a 96% positive score for being run on strong values. It is also second to none for staff believing they can make a valuable contribution to the success of the organisation (93%) loving their job (91%).

A spokesperson for UKRD said: “Based on a culture of being open, fair, honest and unconventional, staff thrive on maximum autonomy, lots of training and development, constant motivation and regular recognition. We give staff thank yous ranging from a bottle of wine or champagne to concert tickets to a trip to the races or cakes and presents on employees birthdays.

Peter Gordon, Programme Director and Breakfast show host at Eagle Radio, said: “As one of the longest serving members of UKRD, it is a real thrill to be able to share this latest success with our colleagues across the UK – but especially with the trail-blazing team we have in Guildford.

“We have always said, we don’t want to be the biggest radio group but we do want to be the best. With strong local revenue a number one local and commercial listening position in our market place and doing things which really make a difference in our community we are, I believe, getting there.”

Eagle Radio covers an area across West Surrey and North-east Hampshire serving a population of 540,000 The station employs 32 people in Guildford. Its studios and offices are located at the top of North Street.

UKRD Chief Exec William Rogers, who also scooped Best Leader in the survey, for the second year running said: “A great deal of time is spent growing and developing staff as people.” 93% of surveyed staff say he is an inspirational chief executive, who, working without a PA, spends most of his time on the road visiting staff, knowing each one by name.

Other scores from staff who completed the survey included: employees who are proud to work for UKRD 93%; care about their colleagues, have lots of fun with them both 91%; and wouldn’t leave tomorrow if they were offered another job 88%. Staff say they find it hard to leave the organisation and many have turned down offers of higher salaries to stay put.

Mr Rogers said: “We have a very low churn-rate of staff. I think that says a great deal in itself.” says Rogers, who sets the tone for the popular senior management team, who, 91% or respondents said, truly live the values of the organisation.

The group’s drive to improve its remuneration package and working conditions has seen an end to the traditional six-day week for presenters and journalists without reducing pay and an increase in holidays from 20 to 25 days for new staff.

This year UKRD, which pays 63% of the workforce between £15,001 and £25,000 a year, has introduced a contributory pension scheme. Ranking 13th overall in our Fair Deal category (up from 18th place last year) 70% of staff said they are happy with their pay and benefits.