IN Papworth Everard, more than 200 people work for Teligence, winner of the Employer of the Year Award 2007. A privately-owned company founded in 1991 to provide professional network services to the communication and internet sectors, in 2000 the company

IN Papworth Everard, more than 200 people work for Teligence, winner of the Employer of the Year Award 2007.

A privately-owned company founded in 1991 to provide professional network services to the communication and internet sectors, in 2000 the company was sold to a multinational telecoms group having grown its turnover to over £26.5million.

But four years later the original founders bought back the business, re-branding it Teligence.

Clients include blue chip telecoms companies, including BT, Virgin Media, Cable & Wireless, T-mobile, 3, AT&T and Alcatel.

Human resources director Flic Henry said the award "reinforces al the hard work the staff put in to make Teligence a growing organisation that's here to stay."

Teligence sees the value of promoting its own employees to senior positions, and it rewards individual success with meals out for employees and their families. The company also funds popular team social events, and acts on feedback from twice-yearly staff satisfaction surveys.

In additional to regular updates of its internet site and intranet, the firm provides every employee with a summary of the monthly management meeting, and managers have regular informal meetings with the teams.

Employee benefits include life assurance, enhance annual leave provision and private healthcare, and technical infrastructure is designed to support a policy of encouraging people to work from home.

Teligence says training and development are key factors in its continued success, but it does not encourage a long-hours culture. Employees are encouraged to take all leave owed to them, including time off in lieu, and not to work extended hours. The company also gives them two clear weeks off at Christmas by closing the business and has a policy of finishing early on the days before a Bank Holiday.

The judges were clearly impressed.