Founded: in 1989 by Charles Dunstone, who set up the company from his attic. The first store opened in 1990

Based: North Acton, London

Number of staff: 12,000 in the UK; 17,000 worldwide

Number of stores: 820 in the UK; more than 2,400 worldwide

Employee benefits: in addition to other benefits, staff are given a day off on their birthday and are given presents on their birthday and wedding day. Money is also put aside for a monthly social outing, the Beer Bus

The inside view from HR director Lynne Weedall

What is the Carphone Warehouse ethos?

“The cornerstone of this business is around independence and impartiality; that’s how we started. We work very hard but it’s OK to be innovative and push the boundaries as long as you’re thinking about the customer.”

As a workplace, what sets Carphone Warehouse apart from your rivals?

“There’s never a dull moment. You’re able to have fun at work in an environment where there’s minimal red tape.”

How do you strive to retain your staff?

“We listen to them. We ask them formally four times a year to fill out feedback forms. They can tell us what they’re thinking on blogs and employee forums.”

How do you ensure your employees have a good work/life balance?

“We try to lead by example so a lot of our store managers will show staff that it’s OK to have a life as well, as does Charles. If people do have to work extra hours they get the time off afterwards.”