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Good company:
By Lucy Bulmer
Very Big Organisations
50%
5%
4
gender ratio among the 18 staff at Aberdeen-based tech agency Appetite for Business
Percentage of salary offered by London-based telecoms firm Vorboss to its 368 employees for “life-enhancing training”
free pizzas a month given to all 9,242 employees at PizzaExpress when the cost-of-living crisis hit last year
2,000+ Employees
Arcadis
The hashtag #ProudToBeMe is shorthand at this London design and engineering consultancy for making its 4,536 staffers feel accepted. They are encouraged to bring their “authentic self” to work, where perks include health insurance and up to 27 days’ paid holiday. There are family-friendly policies designed to benefit employees of all genders.
CGI
Employees at this global IT and business consultancy with a London base are known as “members” because 85 per cent are shareholders. The firm sponsors professional training and its 6,304 staff have access to a wealth of benefits, such as medical cover and a retirement plan pension,gym membership, cheaper electric-vehicle leasing and extra paid holiday.
Childbase Partnership
As co-owners of the business, all 2,299 employees of Childbase are invested in early years care and education. Based in Newport Pagnell, the firm committed £8.5 million last year in extra “cost of living” support for staff at its 43 nurseries, with increased salaries, free meals at work and discounted shopping deals.
David Lloyd Leisure
Perks are fit for purpose at David Lloyd Leisure, whose 5,749 workers receive free membership and use of its gyms and pools. Last winter, the Hatfield-based group offered everyone a daily hot meal, whether or not they were on shift. People connect via an app and can join management development programmes.
FatFace
This clothes designer and retailer wants to help its 2,500 staff be “at their natural best, with a healthy culture that’s made for life”. The Havant-based business employs a hybrid working model, a badge scheme for colleagues to highlight each other’s achievements and prizes of Raleigh bikes.
MBDA
“Dynamic working” is one of the targets at this European missile developer and manufacturer, whose UK base is in Stevenage. Most of the 4,916 UK employees can work from home or juggle an early finish on Fridays. There is private healthcare, an annual bonus, enhanced parental leave and subsidised restaurants.
OVO Energy
The 4,242 workers at this Bristol-based renewable energy and utilities company have up to three paid days a year to volunteer for good causes. An extra 9 per cent of their salary is for flexible benefits such as gym memberships, while OVO’s “zero carbon” ambition encourages cycling to work and tech recycling.
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
The trust’s values – “We’re kind, we’re fair, we listen, we care” – were chosen by its 4,000 employees, based in Dartford, who have a staff forum and wellbeing champions. The organisation has around 46 per cent black and ethnic minority representation and a commitment to “improve equality and inclusion to create an anti-racist organisation”.
PizzaExpress
When the cost of living crisis hit last year, PizzaExpress gave its 9,242 employees four free pizzas a month to eat with family and friends. The motto here is “express yourself” and one ingredient in its secret sauce is loyalty: half of the managers were promoted from within the Uxbridge-based business.
Veolia
Ecological transformation is the aspiration of this London-based water, waste and energy management company, which has a digitally connected workforce of 5,098. Work patterns are flexible and there’s a career development programme designed to boost the number of women in operational positions. Veolia also offers a share scheme and wellbeing benefits.
Big Organisations
250-1,999 Employees
the 40 most loved
Awin
Flexibility is the norm for staff at Awin, an affiliate marketing platform. It allows the 441 London-based employees to work either four days a week or three plus two half-days, and there are opportunities in 16 offices worldwide, alongside a wellness programme and access to mental health coaches.
Benefex
This technology business makes software to help companies in 80 countries manage their employee benefits. Unsurprisingly, it puts that experience into practice with its own 513 employees. The Southampton-based firm is 50 per cent women-led, surveys staff every month and acts on their suggestions, such as modifying processes for new starters with dyslexia.
Churchill Retirement Living
Clinton McCarthy isn’t just co-founder and managing director of this retirement-property builder, he’s also one of its trained mental health first-aiders. This private company, based in Ringwood, Hampshire supports its 393 employees with training programmes, peer-to-peer awards and a social committee that organises day trips and quiz nights.
HE Simm Group
There’s a promote-from-within policy at this 75-year-old mechanical and engineering contractor, started by Ernie Simm and now run by his grandson, Gareth. The 337 employees include 33 families apart from the Simms. People at the Liverpool-based business have access to free training and take part in charity schemes.
Mowgli Street Food
Charity is on the menu at this Liverpool-based Indian street food chain with 17 restaurants. For each full-time employee in the workforce of 652, the Mowgli Trust sponsors a child in India. Staff can also travel to India to learn about charitable projects and the cuisine’s history.
Octopus Energy
The growing London-based green energy business has 1,846 employees, a new Japanese arm and plans to build wind farms across Europe. It has created a podcast to help with recruitment and developed diverse interview panels. Employees get equity options and a tax-efficient scheme to lease an electric vehicle.
tails.com
A nine-day fortnight is being trialled to keep tails wagging at this dog-food delivery firm. The 324 staff in Richmond, southwest London, can work flexible hours and fuss over 57 registered office dogs. “Nothing lightens the mood in a meeting like a dog gnawing on an antler,” notes one employee.
The Edwin Group
A collection of companies, The Edwin Group recruits and supplies teachers and support staff for schools. Carbon negative, the Newcastle upon Tyne firm wants to “positively impact the lives of young people” – it has invested £600,000 to support mental health, attendance, sports and creative arts in schools. Its 263 staff benefit from 31 days’ annual holiday, four weeks’ paid paternity leave and management training.
the7stars
Employees at this London-based media agency can work from anywhere worldwide for four weeks. It believes in giving its 284 people a voice – they voted for dogs in the office – and runs company-wide retreats to Osea Island, Essex. The office is equipped with a bar serving prosecco on tap.
Vorboss
Connectivity is key at telecommunications outfit Vorboss, which provides a high-speed business fibre network to London firms. Based in the capital, it gives the 368 employees 5 per cent of their salary (up to £2,500) for “life-enhancing training”, from leadership courses to swimming lessons. Other benefits include private medical care.
Everyone loves what they do and never wants to leave
MEDIUM Organisations
50-249 Employees
Ancoris
The Bracknell tech firm, specialising in Google Cloud services, runs a training programme to help people from a range of backgrounds to kick-start their careers. Among a recent cohort of its graduates, 60 per cent were female and 33 per cent self-taught “techies”. The company offers its 106 staff private medical care, two volunteering days per year and a flexible work-from-abroad policy.
Carrington West
Regular social events reinforce the attitude that everyone is valued at this Portsmouth-based technical recruitment business, operating in sectors such as town planning. The 98 staff receive weekends away, private medical cover, uncapped commission and a company performance bonus, as well as hardship loans where needed.
easyJet Holidays
Every two weeks, the 187 employees of this Luton-based tour operator have “permission to pause” by taking two hours away from their job to do something to help their wellbeing. The firm aims to make work a pleasure too, with team events as well as a share scheme, flight discounts and holiday vouchers.
11 Investments
London-based 11 Investments, founded by Joe Curtis, Andy Sellers and Charlie Rawstron, is a group of recruitment brands with 104 staff. To ensure “everyone loves what they do and never wants to leave”, as one employee puts it, perks include private medical insurance and a £500 annual wellbeing allowance.
Hamilton Barnes Associates
Company growth at this London-based network engineering recruiter can lead to career progression for go-getting staff. One employee who started as a consultant nine years ago now heads its US operation. Support for the 110 workers comes from mental health and personal development coaches, wellness days and Luna, the office dog.
Itecco
A personal financial adviser is on hand to help Manchester-based recruiter Itecco’s 51 staff manage their money. An annual fully funded ski trip for top billers, monthly achievers club and consultant of the month bonus, plus a generous pension and life insurance cover, are part of its rewards package.
NextWave Consulting
Everyone is a shareholder at NextWave, which helps financial services companies with data analytics, fintech and automation. Its 56 staff in London have 10 “learning days” a year and can earn a bonus for finding new business. A social impact training programme supports young people from diverse backgrounds.
Quooker UK
Not only do the 98 employees here have free Deliveroo lunches, they also get 50 per cent off their own Quooker “tap that does it all”, for boiling, filtered, chilled and sparkling water. Staff at the Dutch family firm’s Manchester office can bring in their pets, dress casually and enjoy social events.
SiXworks
People can aim high at this defence tech consultancy, which has worked with the RAF. The business, based in Farnborough, Hampshire, has 63 employees who enjoy private medical care, annual bonuses and monthly lunch-and-learnsessions. A Wednesday coffee morning quiz, started during the pandemic, is now a permanent fixture.
Xalient Holdings
Martina isn’t an employee at the IT consultancy Xalient but does a vital job – as an AI monitoring tool. The Leeds firm combines tech with a human touch to look after its 170 employees. There is a company bonus scheme, as well as global career opportunities and access to a wellbeing app.
SMALL Organisations
10-49 Employees
stbestplacestowork@workl.com
020 4576 1730
Albion Nord
The 15 employees of this London interior design studio work partly from home but are encouraged to visit galleries and exhibitions to benefit their development. Perks at the company, which aims to create “spaces with a sense of place”, include private medical insurance and suitably stylish summer and winter parties.
Better Placed
Owned jointly by its 37 employees, this Leeds-based recruitment agency offers incentive trips to Cape Town, Dubai and Las Vegas, plus bonus schemes and gym membership. The firm recruits for jobs in digital companies, tech and marketing while fostering an environment in which its own people tend to stay put.
Big Bite Creative
Lunch is free as well as healthy for the Big Bite Creative team, who help organisations improve how they publish their digital content. The Middlesbrough tech firm offers its 28 employees an average salary above £45,000 plus bonuses, and everyone gets £750 a year for learning resources or attending industry events.
DeskLodge
With its motto “Looks like work, feels like fun”, DeskLodge has plenty to live up to, which is why its staff of 11 are offered Audible membership, monthly lunches, weekends away and £500 annual training allowances (plus free sweets on Fridays). The Bristol-based business runs offices and shared working space.
Fintelligent Search
Staff fitness is ingrained at Fintelligent Search, which offers extended gym lunch breaks to its 12 employees. Based in snazzy new office space in Manchester, the financial services, insurance and legal recruitment company provides flexitime, trips overseas, early-finish Fridays and 12 “star days” of extra annual leave based on performance.
Fresh Air Production
It’s nice to be recognised and this London enterprise with a staff of 12 reckons it has the “loudest cohort at award ceremonies”. Run by friends Neil Cowling (founder), Michaela Hallam and Richard Blake, it makes podcasts and radio programmes, with a culture of cooperation and a transparent salary structure.
Leaders in Care Recruitment
Leaders in Care Recruitment really is a listening employer – when one of its 31 employees wins a deal, their computer plays them a personalised song. The Manchester firm, which finds people for jobs in healthcare and biotechnology, offers incentives such as company holidays and up to 12 extra days off a year.
Lemongrass Marketing
Four days a week are for work at Lemongrass Marketing – and the fifth, for the 13 employees, is set aside for volunteering, hobbies or just enjoying life. The Bicester-based travel PRcompany has a hybrid working policy, and perks include travel insurance, private healthcare and a bonus scheme.
Re-Flow
Teams are tight at Re-Flow, a field management software provider based in Exeter. Helping them bond are regular social activities, from group dinners to paintballing and virtual reality parties. A growing business, Re-Flow pays for certifications, training and courses for employees, while perks include dental and eye-care plans, a pension and a cycle-to-work scheme.
SWC Partnership
The SWC Partnership mantra is “Live, learn, evolve” and in that spirit, the Tunbridge Wells-based marketing agency, founded in 2014, was acquired by global agency UP There, Everywhere in February 2023. Hours are flexible and location is hybrid: the 12 employees typically work two days a week in the office.
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Leonardo Ramos Vieira’s employer, PizzaExpress, promotes half its managers from within
11 Investments
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