The winners of the Working Families Employer of the Year Awards 2005 were announced at a ceremony in London on Wednesday, 7 December. The Awards were presented by Meg Munn MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women and Equality.

The winners were:

• Carers UK Carers in Employment Award (joint winners): BT and Hertfordshire County Council

• Lloyds TSB Scotland Scottish Employer of the Year Award: Scottish Legal Aid Board

• NSPCC Family Friendly Award, sponsored by Norman Broadbent: HSBC

• UK Resource Centre Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Award: Jaguar and Land Rover

• Working Families Innovation Award: Equals One and Encore Recruitment

Click on the links above to find out more about their winning policies and practice.

Working Families Chief Executive Sarah Jackson said: "Our extremely varied group of winners – small businesses and blue chip companies, service providers and manufacturers, in the public and private sectors – are all convinced that work-life balance policies and practices have brought huge business benefits to their organisations. We celebrate their creativity and innovation today and hope that their inspiring stories will motivate all those employers who are yet to be persuaded."

For more information on how your organization can associate with excellence, forward thinking and innovation follow this link: www.purpletangerine.com/workingfamilies

WORKING FAMILIES relies entirely on voluntary contributions to run, develop and campaign for work-life balance programmes in the UK. If your company would like to discuss Charity of the Year, Cause Related Marketing or other opportunities of working together then please call Pauline Hunt on 020 72537243 or email Pauline.hunt@workingfamilies.org.uk

Please follow this link for more information on the Awards and shortlisted finalists.

The Employer of the Year 2005 winners at the Gala Luncheon

About the awards:

Carers UK Carers in Employment Award

This award is for an employer who can demonstrate that they have created a "carer-friendly" working environment.

BT

Hertfordshire County Council

Lloyds TSB Scotland Scottish Employer of the Year Award

Lloyds TSB Scotland is sponsoring the Scottish Employer of the Year Award for employers north of the border with the best work-life balance policies and practice, including innovative working patterns, generous leave provisions and employee support systems.

Scottish Legal Aid Board

NSPCC Family Friendly Award, sponsored by Norman Broadbent

For employers with an understanding of the changing needs of parents with children from birth to 18.

HSBC

UK Resource Centre Women in Science, Engineering and Technology Award

For employers with an understanding of the changing needs of parents with children from birth to 18.

Jaguar and Land Rover

Working Families Innovation Award

This is an award for an employer who has devised and implemented leading edge work-life balance policies and practice.

Equals One and Encore Recruitment

Reg Charity No: 1099808