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Experian has been ranked as Britain’s Most Admired Company in the Business Support Services category at Management Today’s prestigious ‘Britain’s Most Admired Companies’ awards 2016. Experian also posted a top ten finish in the overall rankings. It’s the second time Experian has had the honour of winning the Business Support Services category after picking up the honour first time around in 2013. Commenting on the accolade, CEO, Brian Cassin said: “This is a clear recognition of Experian’s strategic focus on helping businesses and consumers achieve better outcomes, whether that’s creating greater financial access, preventing fraud or facilitating business growth. I also believe it’s a testament to our 17,000 colleagues around the world who work every day to service and power opportunities for all our customers.” Organised by Management Today magazine, the BMAC Awards give an insight into the corporate reputations of UK businesses with the winner determined by a poll of the biggest companies, which evaluate their peers. You can see the full list of 2016 winners on the Management Today website. Photo: Experian’s Bill Floydd and Tom Blacksell receive the BMAC Award from Lord Michael Heseltine    

I am a Senior Business Analyst in Experian’s office in Bulgaria. When refugee camps in my country first began filling up with Syrian refugees, I went to help as a volunteer. Since Experian had helped with similar initiatives for those in poverty in Bulgaria, I thought it would be a good idea to volunteer so I could inform other Experian employees of ways they could volunteer in the future. And now I can see that happening, as Experian is about to embark on a new volunteer project as a result. When I first stepped into the refugee camp as part of my own volunteer efforts, it was evening and nearly winter. I came with two volunteers, each carrying bags of clothes and food. No one can really prepare you for the conditions you witness in the camp, and they’re difficult to describe, too. Families had staked claims in small spaces by hanging up curtains, and while some families had the luxury of a bed made from a basic mattress, most people slept on the ground. As I made my way through the camp, I met a family of 12, including a small baby. I was overwhelmed by the welcome they gave me as they invited me to stay and talk with them. A few of them spoke some English, but the rest just wanted to communicate to me in whatever way they could. They graciously prepared me a dinner in traditional Syrian style — couscous, with vegetables and sauces. The meal was like a small celebration for them. They were delighted to even have my attention. Before I left, they sang me a traditional Syrian song that brought tears to my eyes. These people were a normal family — just like mine. They may be from a different country, speak a different language and have different cultural traditions, but I felt a strong sense of kinship to them. My experience grew in me a desire to do more for refugees coming to our country and bring more people along to help. I decided to apply for funding for Experian to work alongside the Refugee Project in a joint initiative to make a bigger, long-term impact on these people. This funding would give other Experian employees a chance to volunteer and provide refugees with the supplies they need. Additionally, Experian is in the process of organizing workshops for families who wish to stay in Bulgaria. These workshops will provide financial education to help them open a bank account, learn how our financial system works and give them the financial information they need to rebuild their lives. It means a lot to me to see what a difference we’re making and how we’re changing lives. I love knowing our work is helping people find a place to live, get a job and start their own business, as well as introducing Syrians to our local culture and customs. Read more #ExperianStories from our colleagues around the world. Photo: Tram in Sofia, Bulgaria

Experian is honored to be among a select group of companies recognized by the Orange County Register as among the best places to work in Orange County, California. This is Experian’s fourth year participating in the TopWorkplaces survey and the fourth time we’ve been recognized as a TopWorkplace. We’re very proud to be among this select group of companies, achieving continual recognition for our positive business culture. Over each of the past four years, Experian’s position on the list has continued to rise, and it’s a cause for real celebration across our workforce of nearly 1,300   people in Orange County when the rankings are announced. We believe this is a reflection of the true passion and commitment the people of Experian demonstrate in our business every day in our efforts to better serve consumers and businesses. On a personal basis, I started with the business nearly 40 years ago, when the company was known as TRW Credit Data, headquartered in Anaheim. And I’ve watched the business grow from the simple concept of credit reporting to what is now an incredibly complex and powerful global business that powers opportunities by understanding how to make information and technology work for the benefit of consumers, businesses and the communities in which we operate. Experian’s employees realize that what we do impacts the lives of millions of people every day. Lenders rely on our information and technology to make decisions about extending credit to people millions of times every day, which means we’re enabling people to buy cars, get mortgages and fulfill their dreams of home ownership, pay for college educations, and fund the development of small businesses. After all, it’s access to affordable credit that underpins the development of all economies, and on a global basis, Experian is there to help. We are very proud of what we do and we’re equally proud of how we do it. We also realize that we have a responsibility to actively participate and contribute to our communities.  Across the globe, we refer to our community engagement programs as “the Heart of Experian,” it’s central to the passion and commitment the people of Experian feel about the company. Our employees are strongly incentivized to be engaged in community support efforts, and Experian provides ample opportunities for employees to volunteer time and money to support local food banks, raise donations for organizations like Children's Hospital of Orange County and Susan G Komen For the Cure. We work with individuals in homeless shelters to help make them credit worthy to be able to afford to move into housing. We’re also committed to continuously searching for top-level talent to bring to Orange County to support our business. Our senior leaders participate in the advisory councils of major universities, including University of California Irvine, and our recruiters travel to universities throughout the United States searching for some of the brightest minds to join us. As I see it, it’s easy for business leaders to make throw away comments such as “our employees are our greatest asset.” In today’s highly competitive world, it is essential that businesses do more than say, but rather treat all employees as their greatest asset. Companies build the atmosphere to treat employees as their greatest asset by providing challenging work and vexing problems to solve, the best training and development available, opportunities for career development and progression, a healthy respect for diversity, and a reward systems that recognizes every individual’s contribution to the success of the company. Experian’s mission oriented environment is one that attracts and retains top talent in Costa Mesa, as well as our other locations across North America. Our employees are committed to helping to create better tomorrows in our communities through corporate social responsibility activities, and through our everyday work and business purpose. Peg Smith is Executive Vice President of Investor Relations Photo of Experian employees accepting the award courtesy of the Orange County Register.