Privately owned commercial radio operator, UKRD Group Limited, has been recognised as an "outstanding" company to work for by Sunday Times sponsored organisation, "Best Companies to Work For" at it's 2009 awards ceremony in London.

The group, which counts amongst it's stations market leaders such as Pirate FM in Cornwall, Eagle Radio in Surrey and KLFM in West Norfolk, was advised of it's "two star status" at an awards event at The Cumberland Hotel in London. In addition to operating radio stations, the group also has a software development unit based in the south west and has recently launched a number of web businesses.

Of the near 800 companies taking part in the accreditation process, UKRD was one of only 150 to achieve the "outstanding" rank alongside just 149 others. The highest level of award, a three star "extra-ordinary" status, was earned by just 55 businesses.

"This is a quite amazing achievement for UKRD at what is a really difficult time for the media sector generally. Against a challenging economic back-drop, our own staff have judged us against a set of independent criteria and delivered a verdict which I am particularly proud to see produced," said William Rogers, Chief Executive.

"Like all organisations, we are not perfect and we inevitably make mistakes from time to time, but this accreditation is first and foremost about the individuals who make up our organisation and their own engagement with our business which is, in reality, what makes it what it is," he said. "They are a great bunch of people and this award is as much a recognition of them as it is of UKRD itself."