THE maker of the Dorset brand Clipper Teas has been saluted as a great place to work for a second year running.

Natural food company Ecotone was highly rated for the trust it inspired among staff and for its work to help their wellbeing.

Ecotone, formerly called Wessanen, employs more than 200 people between its sites in Beaminster and Surrey.

Ann Chambers, HR director at Ecotone UK, said: "For another year, Ecotone has been named a Great Place to Work after being recognised by our own employees for affirming a fair and inclusive workplace. And, one which is working hard to continue growing and improving across the board.

"We pride ourselves on having a culture of working collaboratively, towards our shared mission of protecting biodiversity in everything we do."

To achieve Great Place to Work certification, employers must earn a trust index rating of at least 65 per cent following a survey.

The survey revealed 81 per cent of employees had a sense of pride in their work and three-quarters felt they were making a difference.

Ecotone has an internal initiative called I'm In, which offers workshops and resources to make the business inclusive. Around nine in 10 UK employees agreed the business treats people fairly.

The international company also has a welfare platform in the UK called Flourish, which helps with mental, physical and financial wellbeing. It includes access to webinars, fitness classes, workshops and one-to-one sessions.

Clipper Teas in Beaminster makes natural and fairly traded hot drinks and created the world's first fully biodegradable, non-genetically modified and unbleached tea bag.

Ecotone's other UK brands include Whole Earth peanut butter and other spreads; organic rice, corn and veggie cake brand Kallo; and Mrs Crimble's gluten-free cakes. Ecotone is also certified with B Corp, the organisation that assesses businesses for high standards of social and environmental performance.

It is Europe's first and largest B Corp certified food businesses.