The winner of the year’s top ten employers’ list is shipping firm FedEx Express, it was announced last night.

The competition was run by The Bottom Line magazine, a sister publication of The Royal Gazette, and sponsored by professional services firm PwC. Market research firm Mindmaps carried out the analysis.

FedEx moved up one place on last year’s position to claim the 2013 crown.

FedEx senior manager for the British Caribbean islands Chris Heslop said the award was “a tremendous honour”.

He added: “At FedEx we believe people are our greatest asset — they differentiate us from others and make up the very fibre of our company.”

And Mr Heslop said: “When a company invests in its people they provide superior service which provides profits which can be invested in our people.”

And he told the organisers: “I’m very proud of the recognition and on behalf of Federal Express and its employees, I thank you.”

Reinsurance company Validus — the only representative from its sector — took second place.

Gavin Bishop, chief operating officer at Validus, said: “When we set up the shop, we really looked for a place where we could take things from other places and make it better.”

He added the firm had invested in Bermudian staff, becoming a recognised external exam centre for chartered property casualty underwriter qualifications.

Mr Bishop said: “We have an awesome educational programme and summer internships. We help educate our young Bermudians and the whole company can take advantage of education.

“It helps our individuals compete with the world and it means we have the most educated back office in the industry.”

Air conditioning firm Air Care took the last podium spot in third place.

Air Care general manager Robert Platt said that good working relations with trade union the BIU had contributed to the feel-food factor at the firm.

Mr Platt — who accepted the award with Air Care BIU shop steward Wilbur Bean — added: “I believe that harmony in our workplace involves everybody.

“I wager I’m the only person to show up here with a shop steward, but it was a recognition that they have been extremely responsive in this economy and there is trust that has been built up over a long time.”

Jonathan Kent, editor of The Bottom Line magazine, said: “Great employers are hugely important to this community, particularly during these tough times.

“It’s important to recognise them and that’s what The Bottom Line Top Ten Employers awards are all about.

“This is the fifth time we have held the awards and once again, we have had a good mix of companies among the winners.”

He added: “It’s not just about what money they pay, it’s about training and development opportunities, allowing time and space for family life, and creating a positive workplace culture.”

Caroline Desmarais, chief development officer for Bermuda Press (Holdings) Ltd, who organised and compèred the event, held at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess, said the winning firms “truly set the standard for employment in Bermuda and you should be an inspiration for other companies. Continue the good work.”

Bacardi International — which took first place last year — was fourth, followed by insurance firm Argus and the Fairmont Hamilton Princess.

Insurance companies Freisenbruch Meyer Group and BF&M were in seventh and eighth place respectively, with the Bermuda Commercial Bank and law firm Marshall, Diel and Myers in ninth and tenth place.

To win, ten or more employees from each of the participating companies had to fill out an online employee satisfaction survey, covering all tiers of the organisation.

The anonymous surveys covered topics like the company’s mission and purpose, the quality of materials and equipment and whether staff felt valued by their employers.

Mr Kent added: “I’d like to thank our sponsors PwC, who have backed these awards for a second year, and our partners Mindmaps, whose analysis is a crucial part of this event.”