A free survey aimed at revealing the eastern region’s best employers is launched this month.

The culture and engagement survey, developed by recruitment firm Pure Resourcing Solutions, which has an office in Ipswich, and psychometric tests company eras Ltd and run once every two years, asks employees to answer key questions.

The ‘Best Employer, Eastern Region’ (BEER) survey is open to organisations until July and culminates in a Best Employer awards event in October.

The confidential staff survey, which would normally cost around £2,000, asks staff how they feel about working for their organisations.

Pure director Lynn Walters said taking part benefited businesses.

“Asking your staff to take part in a survey is absolutely essential in enabling your business to develop successfully,” she said.

“The results help you identify the adjustments you need to make, in order to increase employee engagement, which is proven to boost productivity, increase customer satisfaction, reduce absenteeism and improve profitability.

“Not only that, but the survey produces benchmark data, which enables you to compare your standing against similar employers across the East of England. This is critical in terms of knowing what to do to retain staff, especially now the job market is picking up.”

Pure and eras launched the BEER initiative in 2012.

It comprises the biennial survey, awards, seminars and a biennial festival, helping companies learn about, embrace and develop corporate culture and values through employee engagement

Eras managing director Alex Pearce said the survey was “an unmissable opportunity”.

With Pure, we provide guidance, advice and material to help employers communicate and deliver the survey. We are also committed to raising the profile of the diverse range of businesses across the region and we present awards based on survey results to small and large employers across the East of England.”

Awards include an overall Best Employer Eastern Region award, and specific awards for areas such as innovation and customer focus.

Southwold-based marketing agency Spring, is a past winner of the Best Employer award.

“It’s my firm belief that their hard work, creativity and loyalty should be nurtured and rewarded,” said Spring’s founder Erika Clegg.

“From simple things like funding ‘mind-expanding weekends’ and weekly fitness sessions, right up to making long-standing Springers shareholders, we have a long-held policy of investing in our team’s sense of belonging. And the survey and award helped confirm that our approach is working.”

The 15-minute online survey is suitable for organisations of all sizes in the private and not-for-profit sectors. Survey data and results are 100% confidential.

To find out more about the contest, visit www.prs.uk.com.

The survey is available between April and July, with entries for awards being collated in August and September. In October BEER seminars will take place in Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, where winners will be announced and presented with their awards.