A KITCHEN retailer that was embroiled in one of the longest strikes in history has been named Retail Employer of the Year.

Magnet, based in Darlington, has enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes after pledging to pay more attention to the needs of its staff.

The accolade, at the Retail Week Awards ceremony, in London, was recognition that a better working relationship had been forged with employees.

The ceremony was a world away from the bitter 21-month dispute which tore the company apart in 1996.

The scars of the strike, in which 320 workers were in dispute with the kitchen firm, still linger in the town, but Magnet has taken steps to change its image.

Marc Bertrand, human resources director, said: "Now, we are a lot more stable business.

"We are stable because people want to work for us, we are an employer of choice."

The Retail Employer of the Year award was earned, in part, by the company listening to its staff.

The firm analysed feedback from annual employee surveys and has given greater access to its pension fund, raised holiday entitlement by three days and increased the amount of time new parents can take off work following the birth of a child.

Commenting for Retail Week, editor Neill Denny said: "In this category, the judges were most convinced by an employer that had reduced staff turnover by 25 per cent and had increased by 15 per cent those employees who are proud to work for the company. Magnet is successfully changing its culture from a 'command and control' to a 'want to, can do, will do' culture."

This is Magnet's second award. Last year, the company won Best UK Retail Interior award for a new retail concept.