Basingstoke’s newest bank is celebrating after it was voted one of the top ten companies to work for in the UK.

Handelsbanken, which employs 4 staff locally, was ranked 10th in the 2008 Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For awards – the largest league table of UK workplaces, as viewed by company staff.

As well as improving its position from 11th in 2007, Handelsbanken was one of only two banking organisations to be awarded a top three-star accreditation from Best Companies Ltd for extraordinary performance.

Magnus Uggla, Head of Regional Bank Southern England, said:

It is a tremendous achievement to be ranked in the top ten best companies, given the increased competition and the fact that we have grown so rapidly during the last year.

I think one of the most appealing aspects of working for Handelsbanken is the empowerment and trust we place in our people. The bank is like a federation of independent business units which share the same business model; this means staff are given a lot of freedom in deciding how business should be conducted, which is quite unique,” he said.

An award like this strengthens our brand and makes it easier for us to attract highly qualified members of staff, enabling us to enhance our growth in the future.

The Basingstoke branch at Matrix House, Basing View opened in January 2008.

Craig Ward, branch manager of Handelsbanken Basingstoke, said:

The growth of our business has exceeded expectations. It is testament to Handelsbanken’s outstanding reputation that we are able to recruit the best managers available in the marketplace to support this expansion.

The survey revealed that 83 per cent of Handelsbanken’s employees love working for the bank, which was ranked as the second best company overall in terms of staff well being.

Handelsbanken first came to the UK more than 25 years ago to cater for Nordic businesses and their British subsidiaries, but quickly realised the potential to provide universal banking services locally; the branch network that has followed is one of the most successful banking operations set up outside of the high street banks.

Now in its 8th year, the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For awards is a comprehensive guide to the 100 best workplaces in the UK, as voted for by company staff.