Last updated 15:54, Wednesday, 26 March 2008

CH2M HILL has been rated as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by a top US business magazine.

The global full-service engineering, construction and operations firm which has offices on Westlakes Science and Technology Park ranked in Fortune’s 11th annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list.

This is the third time the company has earned a place on the prestigious list.

West Cumbrian international business development director and regional manager, Bob Mawson, said: “The people that collectively form CH2M HILL have created a positive culture to be proud of; this tribute is well deserved.”

“This ranking is a testament to the core values that our firm strives for every day by respecting colleagues, delivering value for our clients and sharing the rewards of success with our employee-owners,” explained Nancy Tuor, president and chief executive of CH2M HILL’s Federal Group.

Fortune’s annual ranking is based on global benchmarking standards and is determined through an extensive nomination and application process.

Two-thirds of the score is based on how randomly selected employees respond to a 57-question survey.

CH2M HILL was selected, in part, due to its competitive compensation and benefits packages, open and accessible communications practices, employee-ownership culture, learning and development opportunities and work-life balance programmes.

Employees frequently cite challenging projects as the reason for joining and staying with CH2M HILL. Current projects include:

Programme management for the seven-year, $5 billion expansion of the Panama Canal;

Overseeing the design and construction of the venues and infrastructure for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games;

Providing programme management consulting services for the $2 billion improvement programme for India’s Mumbai airport;

Engineering services for the Southern Seas Desalination Plant in Perth, Australia, which will use “green” energy to supply 20 percent of Perth’s water needs;

Operating all city services, except emergency services, for Sandy Springs and Johns Creek in Georgia;

Engineering and constructing Xcel Energy’s 580-megawatt gas-fired High Bridge Power Plant near St Paul, Minnesota;

Managing a $10 billion military base relocation programme for the U.S. and South Korean governments.

And on a local level CH2MHill has made good progress on UKAEA’s Windscale site in West Cumbria and is bidding for the Parent Body Organisation position to manage the Sellafield site.