The UK’s Best Companies to Work For in 2023 have been unveiled during a spectacular event that firmly put the spotlight on employee engagement and organisational health.
Held at Evolution London on 2nd November, ‘The Best Companies Awards 2023’ recognised those organisations most dedicated to ‘Making the World a Better Workplace’ during an evening of celebration that saw hundreds of like-minded organisations come together.
Hosted by TV presenter, Dan Walker, the atmosphere was electric as the UK’s ‘Best Companies to Work For’ across four different size categories were named as Eficode UK (small), FSP (mid-sized), Softwire (large) and Admiral Group (big).
The winners all took the ‘Number One’ position in their respective size categories based an overall score generated by their employees’ responses to Best Companies anonymous b-Heard survey.
The survey uses intricate methodology based around eight different areas of the workplace that allows organisations to fully understand where they are excelling, or where there may be areas for improvement based entirely on how their people are thinking and feeling.
Eficode, a small technology firm based in Southeast England, has a values-driven culture that CEO, Simon Wood, believes sets the standard for its success.
He said: “Values are not just statements; they are commitments. They declare who we are, what we stand for, and why. Thus, a truly successful company is not just aware of its values but lives by them.”
The organisation has used and utilised its own Best Companies survey data to achieve continued improvement for the last four years. It has excelled when it comes to looking after its employees’ wellbeing, with 91% agreeing in its latest survey that they enjoyed a good work/life balance.
For mid-size winner, FSP, it was a double night of celebration, with CEO Simon Grosse also named Best Leader as part of a series of ‘Special Awards’ announced on the night.
Grosse said the success of the firm, which specialises in digital transformation, is down to the firm being a business that "puts its people first and commits to being the best it can be”.
Having only started surveying with Best Companies in 2022, both accolades have been achieved a year later.
Consistently performing well in its survey results, earlier in the year Pete Grosse, Chief People Officer, and Jack Tame, Employee Experience Executive, said they believe that “a fun workplace results in harder work output and teams that are committed to the company.”
FSP demonstrated this ethos when it recently celebrated its birthday, marking the occasion by taking staff to a luxury hotel where they held a special party. In its most recent survey, over 94% of employees agreed with the statement ‘my team is fun to work with.’
For Softwire, a software developer named the Best Company to Work For in the large size category, work should be a positive experience. According to Andrew Thomas, Managing Director, employee engagement is “crucial” for creating a high trust environment and something it invests a lot of “time, effort and energy” into.
Similarly to FSP, Softwire has performed well in its surveys in 2023, something which Yemi Olagbaiye, Client Director, believes is down to good communication and transparency.
“We want to let our employees know where we’re going and why,” he explained earlier this year. “It’s about the feedback loop as well. What are our employees saying to us and how can we support them?”
Softwire believes employee satisfaction is as important as that of its clients and has a high retention rate to show for it. It particularly supports growth and development, offering ongoing training and mentoring. In its latest survey, 94% of respondents agreed that the experience they gain from their job is valuable for their future.
Finally, the big size category, insurance provider Admiral Group was crowned the UK’s Best Company to Work For in 2023.
Accepting the award on the night, CEO Milena Mondini de Focatiis, said: “We have an amazing 12,000 colleagues across all our peer groups that make every day easy to come to work. They come with both joy and passion for our mission, yet we have a lot of fun along the way.”
Admiral Group started surveying with Best Companies in 2001 and in 2020 was awarded ‘lifetime achievement’ in recognition of its 20 years of putting its people first. The organisation’s philosophy of “people who like what they do, do it better” has always seen them rank highly in the Best Companies to Work For list, however, 2023 is the first time it has achieved the number one position.
Central to this win has been the company’s focus on leadership. During the awards evening, Milena Mondini de Focatiis was also awarded ‘Best Leader’ in the big size category and CEO Emeritus, Henry Engelhardt, was given a Lifetime Recognition Award for his dedication to employee engagement from when the company was founded.
After all the winners were unveiled, including those by region and sector, the evening continued in style with attendees celebrating to the beat of an upbeat DJ set, a live saxophonist, a crowded dancefloor.
For Best Companies Founder and CEO, Jonathan Austin, having an annual event that recognises, celebrates, and congratulates the organisations that are truly putting their people at the forefront is of the utmost importance, particularly in the current economic climate.
He said: “It’s been undoubtedly a challenging couple of years, with this one arguably being the toughest. That for me makes the success of these organisations even more special. All the companies here tonight have demonstrated that by really caring for their people, they in turn, are helping them navigate these challenging times better than the rest.”
All of the Best Companies to Work For in 2023 (national, regional, and sector) can be found here.
The survey window for the 2024 Best Companies to Work For Lists are now open. For more information, click here.
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