HLM Architects has been short-listed for recognition in the Employer of the Year category of the National Business Awards for Scotland.

The National Business Awards for Scotland are open to any company with a Scottish base, public or private, from any sector and of any size. To reach the finals is an accolade in itself.

The results will be announced on 24 June at an event to be held at the Hilton, Glasgow. The winner in each category will go on to compete in the National Business Awards, which is announced in November.

The last 12 months HLM has received national recognition for its employment policies:

The practice has been awarded three stars in 2009's Best Companies Accreditation List - classed as an 'extraordinary' company to work for, an honour received by just 55 companies in the UK as a whole. This scheme recognises companies that demonstrate the highest level of employee engagement and results are based on staff feedback.

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HLM has also climbed 25 places in the Sunday Times' 100 Best Small Companies to Work For in 2009, to take 37th place, and is the only architect to make the top 100. The company also received the Sunday Times Special Award for Engaging with Schools as part of its work in the education sector.

"We're proud to have reached the regional finals for the National Business Awards," said Lorraine Robertson Regional Director, responsible for HLM's Glasgow office. "This is a competition that pitches all types and sizes of companies against one another and we’re hopeful that with our ongoing efforts to make working life more rewarding for our people, we might have what it takes to clinch the national award."

In terms of 'having what it takes', HLM makes its workforce the number one priority, acknowledging that without committed, talented, motivated and happy staff, the company wouldn't sustain its current success. HLM has opened two new offices in the last two years, bringing the total to seven across the UK, and now employs 175 full-time members of staff (20 in Glasgow).

HLM's flat hierarchical structure, its open forums for discussion, its investment in training and its recognition of the importance of family and personal welfare and the carefully selected 'lifestyle' rewards package all help HLM achieve its goal where staff "live, work and play to their full potential."

(GK/JM)