Toby, the dog, is head of morale at commercial business broker Hilton Smythe. He joined the team in 2021 and ensures he keeps his colleagues in high spirits. He spends his time in the office looking for the occasional tummy rub and stroke.

Meanwhile, more flexible working, improved employee benefits, and becoming a living wage employer have decreased staff turnover at the Bolton-based commercial business broker.

It was set up by best friends Gareth Smyth and Craig Graham in 2011. The pair started selling businesses in 2006 and came to realise that brokers did not care about the clients or their businesses. They seemed to be interested only in charging upfront fees and, as a bonus, selling one or two businesses.

Smyth and Graham set about challenging the norm by creating a company that focused on selling businesses and offering great customer service.

In 2014, it won the Bolton and Bury business award for start-up of the year. In 2018, the firm expanded into corporate financial services and, in 2021, it won the Feefo Gold Trusted Service award. Customers describe the service as "prompt, personal and professional" and the staff as "friendly, professional and helpful" on the ratings and reviews website.

According to Smyth: "it is even more important, in a post-Covid world, to ensure employee engagement is at its very best. Engaged employees not only enjoy what they do, but it also shows through their work and through clients' feedback about their experience."