Specialist lender Foundation has secured Great Place To Work certification after 93% of its employees said it was a great place to work, compared with 54% at a typical UK business.

The intermediary-only lender, which employs nearly 300 people, received the accreditation following an independent assessment based entirely on employee feedback.

The survey recorded particularly positive responses on fairness, inclusion, belonging and workplace safety. It also found that 95% of employees believed Foundation’s facilities contributed to a good working environment.

Foundation provides specialist buy-to-let and residential mortgage products through intermediaries, with its teams supporting brokers handling cases that fall outside mainstream lending criteria.

The certification recognises the lender’s workplace culture and employee experience, with the results indicating high levels of satisfaction across its workforce.

Pete Ball (pictured), group chief executive officer at Foundation, said: “We firmly believe that a great workplace is created by the people within it. The way we support one another, work together, challenge ourselves and live our values shapes the experience of working here.

“This proud moment and prestigious award is therefore an achievement that belongs to the entire team.”

Ball said the independent assessment also provided evidence that the company’s stated values were reflected in employees’ experiences.

He added: “It is independent confirmation that we are a workplace where people can develop, contribute and succeed. It also demonstrates that our values of fairness, accountability, customer first and transparency are values that colleagues see and experience in action.

“That positive culture is then reflected in the expert insight, clarity and experience we provide to our customers and partners on a daily basis.”

Ball said Foundation would continue to use employee feedback to identify areas for improvement.

He concluded: “While it is important to celebrate this achievement, we know there is always more to do. Great workplaces don’t stand still – they listen, learn and continue to evolve.

“We’ll continue to listen to colleague feedback to shape improvements and help ensure Foundation remains a place where people feel valued, supported and able to do their best work.”