Some of the UK’s most employee-friendly small and medium businesses have been shortlisted for the Workingmums.co.uk Top Employer Awards.

The businesses have been nominated across eight categories, from the smallest businesses employing one-to-25 staff, to larger SMEs with 250 employees.

The awards recognise progressive HR policies and will single out businesses for praise in the areas of family support, treatment of new fathers and innovation in flexible working.

Gillian Nissim, founder of Workingmums.co.uk, said: “The aim of these Awards and our Best Practice Report which features our winners is to spread the word about the innovative practices these businesses employ so that others can be inspired by them.

“These employers fully understand the business case for recruiting and retaining talented female staff and go out of their way to back that up with action.”

The awards are sponsored by a host of blue chip businesses from McDonalds to Royal Mail and will be judged by an expert panel featuring Dave Dunbar, head of BT Flexible Working Services and Clare Kelliher, professor of work and organisation at Cranfield School of Management.

Winners are to be announced at a ceremony at London’s Soho Hotel on 4 November.