Mars Australia was the only manufacturer in the top 25 of the BRW Best Places to Work rankings that came out this week. 

Ballarat general manager Michael Ryan said it was more than just their liberal take-home policy for the goodies that kept them popular with workers. 

“We continue to do well because Mars at its heart believes people are integral to its success,” he said. 

“We give (the associates) opportunities to really make an impact.” 

Most of the other businesses rated highly by their workers in the tech sector and much smaller operations. 

Number one, software developer Atlassian, gives new hires holiday vouchers so they are ready to start work and also trumpeted its internal recognition for people doing well at well. 

Mr Ryan said their ranking was a point of pride. 

“We are the only manufacturing company in the top 25. It’s an additional challenge for manufacturing companies,” he said. 

“None of our peers are in the top 25. We really focus as what we said before, great careers, great development. 

“We (also) recognise people for doing great work. Those who’ve done great jobs end up being winners of associate of the year, associate of the quarter.” 

The associates are split about half-and-half between factory floor jobs and office jobs in Ballarat, Mr Ryan said. 

The burning question for those sold on the idea of working at the heart of the Mars and M&M empire in Australia is how to get a job there. 

Mr Ryan said people from all fields came to Mars. 

“In any year, we’re hiring people to do all sorts of roles in our business,” he said. 

“We’re hiring new graduates, hiring people to come into the business in finance, research and development, those sort of roles, and we’re hiring people to work in the factory.”  

This is the fourth year in a row the 104-year-old company has been awarded by BRW, and it jumped nine places from last year in the rankings. 

Ballarat people have long had happy working lives at Mars in its 35 years in town, and Mr Ryan said they were still working hard on improving the plant. 

 “The last few years have seen records in terms of productivity,” he said. 

“There are a lot of exciting things happening in Ballarat. There’s a whole new Maltesers factory, that’s significantly increased the capacity of Maltesers.” 

“There’s a lot of expansion going on at the moment.” 

Mr Ryan estimated production had increased 20 per cent in recent years.