Boots is still one of the best big companies to work for in the UK, according to the Sunday Times' top employers list, but was overtaken this year by Midcounties Co-operative.

Boots ranked 20th in the Sunday Times Top 25 Best Big Companies list for 2013, the newspaper revealed earlier this week (March 5), little change from its 2012 rank of 21st. But Midcounties Co-operative, a division of the the Co-operative that owns 45 pharmacies in the Midlands, shot up 11 places in one year from 24th to 13th.

"This award acknowledges our ongoing commitment and continued dedication to being an employer of choice in the UK" Alex Gourlay, Alliance Boots	More on Boots Boots fights to avoid formal PDA union representation Steve Banks: The new face of Boots Boots claims decriminalisation would have little       impact on its staff
	The Sunday Times list ranks companies with 5,000 or more employees based on how employees rate their company, managers and team, as well as how they feel about work pressure and their pay.  Alliance Boots health and beauty division chief executive Alex Gourlay said he was "delighted" that the company was recognised on the Sunday Times list again.

"This award acknowledges our ongoing commitment and continued dedication to being an employer of choice in the UK," he said. "We are incredibly proud to have this support from our colleagues and we will continue to invest in our ambition of creating the most empowered and engaged team."

Midcounties Co-operative Pharmacy Group general manager Adrian Wilkinson reported that the division was particularly proud of its employee retention.

"Many of our colleagues in the branches spend the majority of their working lives with us," he said. "This is how we've built up trust with the communities we serve over the years – having familiar and friendly pharmacy teams on hand to offer advice and guidance on health issues."