The UK’s Best Companies to Work For unveiled during spectacular live event

This year’s Best Companies to Work For in the UK have been unveiled during a spectacular live showcase event celebrating the very best in workplace engagement

Broadcast live from Media City in Salford on Friday May 21st, the inaugural ‘Best Companies Live’ event revealed not only the very best organisations nationally, regionally and by sector, but also awarded the most deserving individuals with ‘Special Awards’ for their contributions to the workplace.  

Hosted by TV presenter, Dan Walker, the event attracted an estimated viewership of 55,000 people and was streamed live on a specially designed platform. The day featured a full programme of discussion and conversation on subjects including Wellbeing, Giving Something Back, Leadership, Personal Growth and The Future of The Workplace.  

Who won the national lists?

Topping the national lists across four different size categories were Redrock Consulting (small), The Educ8 Group (mid-sized), Beaverbrooks (large) and Roche (big).  

The winners were each surprised with their ‘number one’ trophies delivered in person to their offices and caught on camera for a big reveal. They then joined a live Zoom call where they were congratulated by Walker and our CEO here at Best Companies, Jonathan Austin.  

“Incredibly proud”

Commenting on the achievement of being named the UK’s Best Small Company to Work For, Dean Harte, Managing Director of Redrock, said how “incredibly proud” he was of his team, whose cheering could be heard in the background. The ‘Redrockers’, as they are affectionately known, would be celebrating with socially-distanced drinks, Harte said.  

For Educ8 Group’s Chairman, Colin Tucker, winning the UK’s Best Mid-Sized Company to Work For accolade was especially poignant after such a challenging year. Commenting, he said: “It’s not just about the people here today, but the people who have created the soul of the business. It’s about everyone in the organisation working ‘as one."  

“Quite simply blown away”

Representing Beaverbrooks, which also won ‘Retail’s Best Company to Work For’ accolade, and beaming in from their store in the Trafford Centre, Manchester, Managing Director Anna Blackburn said she was “quite simply blown away” after being named the UK’s Best Large Company to Work For in 2021. Her fellow Zoom call companion, Mark Adlestone OBE DL, the company’s Chairman, said he was “absolutely thrilled”, particularly after the retail sector has faced such turbulence because of the pandemic.

Live from Welwyn Garden City, General Manager of Roche, Richard Erwin, congratulated his whole workforce after being named the UK’s Best Big Company to Work For, saying that it was “first and foremost a win for all of them”, adding “we look forward to a huge celebration as this means a huge amount.”  

“Nothing short of incredible”

At Best Companies, we have been helping organisations measure and improve employee engagement for over 20 years. We power the results of the lists using a unique and robust methodology.  

Commenting on the day, our CEO and Founder, Jonathan, said: “What an amazing event the first Best Companies Live event has been. The stories we’ve shared and the achievements we’ve recognised are nothing short of incredible. Congratulations to all the winners and listed companies on such a fantastic achievement.”  

The full lists of winners across all list sizes and categories can be found here and full recordings of the day can be accessed here.

To return to the Insight hub for more articles from Best Companies please click here.

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