Seventy-eight per cent of Britain’s Top Employers said they expected their workforce to increase in the next three years; 18 percent reported the numbers will stay the same over the same period; and four percent indicated their workforce will decrease.

This is a more optimistic view of their organisations’ growth, compared with the European average of 51 percent who expected their workforce to increase; 36 percent who said the numbers will stay the same; and 13 percent who indicated they will decrease.

These are some of the findings from the research report by the CRF Institute on Top Employers in Europe. HR directors of British organisations participated in the 2010 Top Employers project, which are also conducted in Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Poland.

The Britain’s Top Employers project is a unique combination of HR policy-based research, certification and promotion. All participants have completed a comprehensive research programme called the HR Best Practices Survey, designed to give deep insights into a company’s performance across 11 key areas of HR practice. These include Talent Management and Engagement; Communication; Employee Development; and Reward and Recognition.

Participants in Britain’s Top Employers are evaluated on criteria that are then used to benchmark their performance with peer group organisations. This detailed benchmarking exercise highlights areas of relative strength and gives HR professionals and senior executives valuable insight to their employer brand. The finalists for Britain’s Top Employers 2010 will gather at an awards ceremony in London on 24^th March to celebrate their excellence in HR management.

http://www.britainstopemployers.co.uk/