Ulster Carpet Mills is situated on the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.

The County Armagh firm came 12th overall in the whole of Britain in the Sunday Times' 50 Best Companies to Work For survey.

The mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road area has been the site of much controversy over attempts by the Protestant Orange Order to be allowed to march down the road on the way back from a service at Drumcree church.

Our message is good jobs for good people Mike Mills Ulster Carpet Mills

Managing director Mike Mills paid tribute to the company's staff.

"The people who make up Ulster Carpets, throughout every aspect of this business, reject sectarianism and terrorism.

"We recognise that the business environment is what is going to pull Northern Ireland through in the long term.

"Our message is good jobs for good people," he said.

Culture

Mr Mills said the culture of the business was a key factor in its success.

"This is a family business, and the culture and ethics of the Wilson family who have owned the business for over 60 years, are what we all try to live up to.

"The family culture that is instilled is something that everybody in the company subscribes to.

"It's not rocket science: it's just a question of open, honest communication and listening to people, trying to do the right thing by people even in difficult circumstances and not trying to pretend that management have all the answers, because we certainly don't."

One factor in the company's success is the benefits offered to staff.

Health and Safety co-ordinator Malcolm Proctor said he had benefited from winning the company's employee of the month scheme in 1997.

He was sent on a ten-day trip to Durban, South Africa.

"It might have been five or six years ago, but it's still very much in my memory," he said.