THE owner of Dorset brand Clipper Teas has been officially declared a great place to work.

Ecotone, which owns the Beaminster-based brand, won approval from the Great Place to Work certification scheme.

The company, previously called Wessanen, employs more than 1,600 people in seven countries. It is part of the B Corp movement, which recognises businesses that balance purpose with profit.

Chief executive Christophe Barnouin said: “We are incredibly proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work.

“The employee experience is highly important to us and all feedback is helpful to see the areas where we’re excelling and where we need to improve.

“Being a mission-led business, I was particularly pleased to see so many in our team that are committed to help us deliver food for biodiversity.

“To be successful in our mission, it’s important that our employees embody our values and work with us in harmony with nature to create food with a minimal environmental impact while helping to boost biodiversity.”

Ecotone says staff are regularly invited to contribute to the company’s strategy, advise on areas for improvement and share best practices. It runs an internal programme called I’m In, which includes workshops and resources, in an effort to be an inclusive company.

UK staff have access to a specialist platform called Flourish, which supports mental, physical and financial wellbeing. During the pandemic, they have had access to webinars, fitness classes, workshops and one-to-one sessions with an independent expert.

In the Great Place to Work survey, between 90 and 96 per cent of staff agreed the business treated staff fairly, regardless of sexual orientation, race or gender.

The company had an 82 per cent participation rate in the survey in the UK. Three quarters of participants said it was a great place to work.