Bensons for Beds has been officially recognised as a certified great workplace – a globally recognised benchmark for outstanding workplace culture, trust, and employee experience.
This latest accolade comes just weeks after the company was named National Bed Retailer of the Year by the National Bed Federation, further highlighting Bensons’ transformation.
Considered a gold standard of employer awards, Great Place To Work certification is based on extensive employee feedback, evaluating trust, leadership, innovation, company values and colleague experience. Only organisations achieving high scores across these areas are awarded certification and considered for Best Workplace status.
Bensons’ certification is based entirely on feedback shared by its colleagues in the company’s annual engagement survey, with highlights including: 70% feel Bensons is a great place to work; 83% feel Bensons is a friendly place to work; 81% feel they are treated as a full member of the team, regardless of their position; 87% feel they are treated fairly regardless of their gender; 89% feel they are treated fairly regardless of their race; and 90% feel they are treated fairly regardless of their sexual orientation.
These results reflect a significant uplift in colleague sentiment and demonstrate the strong, values-driven culture Bensons has built, with scores now surpassing the benchmark required to achieve accreditation.
The certification is the result of a multi-year transformation strategy built around Bensons’ commitment to “unlocking the power of our people". Over the past 12 months, the company has implemented a series of initiatives designed to improve the colleague experience and foster a supportive, inclusive culture, including: Sleep Councils established across the business to ensure colleague voices directly influence decision-making; the '40 Thinks' suggestion scheme, empowering colleagues to share ideas and shape the future of the company; a range of new family-friendly policies designed to support work/life balance and wellbeing; and continuous improvements to the overall colleague proposition based on direct feedback and engagement.
These initiatives have helped drive stronger engagement and satisfaction levels while reinforcing Bensons’ position as an employer of choice in a competitive retail talent market.
Nick Collard, CEO of Bensons for Beds, says: “Our people are at the heart of our business, and being named a Certified great workplace by Great Place To Work is an incredible milestone for Bensons – and it’s all thanks to our people. This recognition isn’t just about an award – it’s a reflection of the culture we’re building together. It shows that our colleagues feel valued, supported, and empowered – and that’s the real achievement.
“Over the past few years, we’ve listened, acted, and evolved based on colleague feedback – from launching new policies and initiatives to ensuring that every voice is heard. This certification proves we’re on the right path, but it’s also just the beginning. Our aim isn’t to be the biggest, but to be the best – and this recognition shows we’re well on our way.”
Benedict Gautrey, MD of Great Place To Work UK, adds: “We’re delighted to recognise Bensons for Beds as a Great Place To Work certified company. This certification is based entirely on what employees say about their workplace experience, and it’s clear that Bensons has created an environment where people feel valued, trusted, and empowered to succeed.
“Achieving this standard is no small feat – it reflects a genuine commitment to fostering a culture built on trust, inclusion and innovation. Bensons’ focus on listening to colleague feedback and translating that into meaningful action is what sets them apart, and it’s why they should be proud to count themselves among the UK’s most progressive and people-centred employers.”
