Here's why Homeserve is one of the best companies in the UK to work for

Homeserve, which has its international headquarters in Walsall, even scored higher than Apple, Unilever and John Lewis.

It began with just 20 people two decades ago and now employs more than 4,700 across the globe, collecting armfuls of awards as it grows.

The latest accolade bestowed on HomeServe comes from its own 2,900-strong UK workforce. The home assistance firm has just been named one of the UK's top three companies to work for.

HomeServe, which also has offices in London, Preston, Nottingham and Banbury, was awarded third place in Glassdoor's Best Places to Work list, the only UK study of workplaces based solely on voluntary feedback from employees.

Only travel website Expedia, in first place, and electronic chip business ARM Holdings were ranked higher in the study, which covers businesses employing more than 1,000 staff.

With Homeserve being rated as one of the UK's top companies to work for, the Express & Star looks at what perks other companies across the globe are offering their employees.

To help with looking after children, Walsall's Homeserve offers childcare vouchers. But this is blown out of the water by online streaming giant Netflix who gives both mothers and fathers a year off work when a child is born.

Normally dads only get around two weeks off work for paternity leave.

Fellow online heavyweight Facebook also goes above and beyond when it comes to parents and their children. They award a new parent $4,000 to goes towards the baby's cost and offer four months of paid leave with subsidised day care.

Another example of incredible employee generosity comes from across the pond at CVS Health.

The American pharmacy and healthcare company offer free health screenings and immunisations, adoption coverage/assistance and an education reimbursement. On top of this most employees have the option to work from home after six months with the company.

For employees looking for cash benefits then software company Huddle offer a £5,000 joining bonus known as a 'huddle cuddle'. They also give out gifts every year worth around £500.

For those resorting to the al desko dining (eating at your desk) when having a spot of lunch at work, Google offer its staff free meals with a choice of cuisines.

American outdoor retail firm REI offers its employees two days a year when they can go out and take on a new challenge or take part in their favourite activity, while still getting paid.

Known as Yay Days the company encourages staff to recnnect with the outdoors, which they say helps them deliver better customer service.

HomeServe is the only West Midlands-based company on this year's top 50 list and the only firm to represent the home assistance sector.

Walsall MP David Winnick said the award was thoroughly deserved.

"My congratulation to the firm. They are one of the biggest, if not the biggest company in my constituency and I'm delighted that they have been recognised for treating their employees well.

"I very recently visited the firm again and was much impressed by the work undertaken, including facilities relating to their output.

"In fact, I was so impressed I wrote to ministers highlighting that this was a very useful business which had invented a small device that detects and contains water leaks. I recommended that the minister get in touch with them."

Councillor Tina Jukes, whose Birchills ward includes HomeServe, also applauded the company.

"It's brilliant news, and so nice to know that they treat employees decently and not like dirt like a lot of firms do.

"It must give the company bosses a big buzz. It means that they're obviously doing something right."

HomeServe was initially launched as a joint venture with South Staffordshire Water in 1993. Its founder, business consultant Richard Harpin, was offered six weeks work by the water company to look into setting up a plumbing service for customers and came up with the idea of running it like the AA - charging a basic membership fee to cover plumbing or wiring insurance repairs around the house.

He was recruited to run the new Home Service department in return for a 48 per cent stake in it, with three staff and £100,000. It lost money in its first year but made a £7 million by year five and £100 million after 15 years. By 2004 the Homeserve section had grown to dwarf the water company and was split into a separate entity with Richard Harpin as chief executive. Today it has a capital value of around £1.89 billion and this year reached 2.2 million UK customers.

Greg Reed, chief marketing officer at HomeServe, said of the award: "Being named one of the top three best places to work in the UK is really special. Over the last three years, we have been on an incredible journey and have worked tirelessly to create an exceptional culture, one which is based on a really simple philosophy: you take care of your people, they will take care of your customers and the rest will take care of itself.

"Best of all, it's a culture that every single person in our company is proud to be a part of."