“Education can be a tough environment to work in, but QMC seems to be making it a nice place to work!”

Queen Mary’s College has been recognised as the Best Place to Work at Basingstoke and Deane’s annual INSPIRE Business Awards, organised by Destination Basingstoke. The prestigious award was presented on Thursday 17th July at a grand ceremony at Oakley Hall, celebrating the achievements and successes of local businesses. 

What is the INSPIRE Business Awards?

The INSPIRE Business Awards celebrates excellence among local businesses across various categories, including Small Business of the Year, Young Business Person of the Year Award, and Best Place to Work.

Celebrating the business community of Basingstoke and Deane, the INSPIRE Business Awards aims to:

• Highlight and celebrate business excellence and outstanding local enterprises
• Inspire and support businesses in Basingstoke and Deane to thrive
• Mark Basingstoke and Deane as a vital business region by uplifting local communities
• Provide a prominent platform to showcase and celebrate the finest examples of local businesses
• Encourage collaboration among local businesses and promote positive community engagement

QMC Takes Home the Best Place to Work Award

Alongside three finalists, Queen Mary’s College was shortlisted for the Best Place to Work Award, distinguished by several key factors:

• Staff at QMC consistently feel valued, supported and inspired to do their best
• The College fosters a welcoming, inclusive environment where every individual is respected and encouraged to collaborate effectively with their colleagues
• Employees experience professional challenges that create opportunities for growth, while the College ensure that all employees have adequate time for personal well-being, cultivating an authentically positive workplace environment for all
• QMC’s staff demonstrate strong engagement and community spirit, contributing to an enriching and rewarding work experience

The judges cited numerous factors in their final decision, stating: “Following the judges’ visits to these shortlisted businesses, we felt that QMC should be the winners of the Best Place to Work category.”

The judging panel was particularly impressed by QMC’s team dynamic and the genuine support staff provide for each other through both good times and challenging periods. They highlighted the positive, supportive leadership of Principal Mark Henderson, noting how he nurtures a distinctly ‘Best Place to Work’ atmosphere throughout the college.

The judges also recognised the impressive length of service among many staff members as a clear testament to QMC being an exceptional workplace. This year, the College celebrated the retirement of several long-serving colleagues, including Bill May, who began his journey at QMC as a teacher in the Science Department and concluded his career still supporting the department as a Science Technician (48 years), and Tom Pearson, who provided his expertise as a History teacher for 42 years. Their decades of dedicated service exemplify the loyalty and job satisfaction that QMC fosters.

They praised the College’s outstanding staff survey results, extensive range of staff activities and development opportunities, as well as numerous awards and nominations received by the institution.

One initiative that particularly captured the judges’ attention was the Challenges Abroad programme, with judges noting how “staff shine when they spoke about it.”

The panel was also deeply moved by QMC’s compassionate approach to staff welfare, highlighting the experience of one staff member who received comprehensive support following a major health diagnosis, throughout their treatment, and during their successful return to work.

As the judges concluded: “Education can be a tough environment to work in, but QMC seems to be making it a nice place to work!”

Principal Mark Henderson expressed his pride in receiving the award: “We are incredibly proud to be recognised as the Best Place to Work. This award belongs to every single member of our QMC team. What makes QMC special is our shared commitment to supporting one another and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. When our staff feel valued and supported, that positive energy naturally flows into everything we do – our teaching, our student support, and our wider community engagement. This recognition reinforces our belief that investing in our people isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s fundamental to delivering exceptional education and opportunities for our students.”

How Great Staff Culture Creates Exceptional Student Experiences

QMC’s positive workplace culture, where staff are actively engaged in the college community directly translates into an exceptional student experience.

As staff are encouraged to perform their best while receiving comprehensive support, their positive disposition naturally extends to their teaching and pastoral roles.

This impact is clearly demonstrated through the hundreds of student nominations QMC recently received, celebrating their incredible teachers and staff. Here are just a few examples of what students had to say:

“She is the most supportive teacher ever… she always goes above and beyond for us and we appreciate her so much!”

“He’s the best teacher ever! Really good at explaining things, so understanding and goes out of his way to help.”

“They are literally my entire support system!”

“They are brilliant at their job in the classroom, and also so supportive and caring outside the classroom!”

“He always makes the effort to check in on students.”

The Best Place to Work Award recognises QMC’s exceptional workplace culture, which in turn creates a chain reaction of excellence within our college community, where staff thrive and students flourish.

Queen Mary’s College is determined and committed to creating an outstanding working environment in which our staff are inspired to be their best, because we believe that great education begins with great people who feel valued, heard, and supported.