Directors and staff at a Bradford Garden Centre are celebrating after being announced as a finalist in the 15th annual Yorkshire Post Excellence in Business awards.

Tong Garden Centre has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Employer category that celebrates the employers who truly value and reward their staff, nurturing a culture that allows all employees to play a role in moving the company forward.

Tong Garden Centre's Head of People and Culture, Neil Barwise-Carr, is delighted with the news: "We're a proud employer of 184 local people and our aim is to make sure that we attract, recruit, retain and develop great people, and that Tong continues to be a great place to work.

"In the last 18 months, we have developed e-learning platforms, new appraisal schemes, enhanced staff benefits and improved communication and employee engagement, so we're naturally delighted that our initiatives have contributed to our place in the final."

The Tong Lane business was one of 180 businesses entering the awards and faces competition from fellow Bradford business, Exa Networks; Leeds business, Thrive Law and South Yorkshire companies, One Medical and Mechanical Facilities. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 4th November that will be hosted by a media personality and digitally streamed.

Of the awards, Greg Wright, deputy business editor of the organiser, Yorkshire Post said: "The wonderful, dynamic enterprising companies that have earned a place on the shortlist prove that our region is the best in the UK to do business."

Tong Garden Centre occupies a 14 acre site in Tong village. It is one of Yorkshire's biggest garden centres with 110,000 square feet of retail space and parking for up to 1,000 cars.

For more information about Tong Garden Centre, please visit www.tonggardencentre.co.uk
For more information about Yorkshire Post Excellence Awards, please visit www.yorkshirebusinessexcellence.co.uk