Belfast and Newtownards firm Worthingtons Solicitors sponsored the Employers for Childcare 2016 Family Friendly Awards for the third year running.

Worthingtons partner Maxine Orr, head of the firm’s employment department, spoke at the special awards lunch at Galgorm Resort & Spa near Ballymena.

Belfast Health & Social Care Trust were the first-ever winners of the Overall Winner of the Family Friendly Employer Award, as well as winning Public Sector Organisation of the Year.

There was a large number of entries highlighting the continued commitment of Northern Irish companies to providing their employees with a healthy balance between their work and family lives.

The other winners were:

Winner: Aisling Daycare

Highly commended: Progressive Building Society

Winner: Allstate NI

Highly commended: Lagan Construction Group

Winner: MACS NI

Highly commended: NI Hospice

Winner: Belfast Health & Social Care Trust

Highly commended: Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council

Winner: Queen’s University Belfast

Highly commended: Aisling Daycare

Ms Orr told ILN: “Worthingtons Solicitors were delighted to sponsor the Family Friendly Employer Awards 2016, celebrating those businesses in NI that promote and prioritise family friendly polices in the workplace.

“These businesses clearly value their staff and strive for staff retention and recruitment based on ensuring family values and workplace equality.”