and we're making some exciting changes...
Learn more
At Best Companies, we’ve been helping to make the world a better workplace for over 23 years. In 2001 we published the first ever Best Companies to Work For list in the UK, and in 2006 we launched the Best Companies Accreditation programme, setting the standard for workplace engagement.
We’re constantly evolving our approach to reflect conditions in the market and feedback from our clients. That’s why, in 2021, we launched our new model…
Jonathan Austin
CEO and Founder
5m
Employees
heard
5k+
Accredited organisations
23yrs
of driving
change
to help you utilise your Accreditation and improve your organisational health
In 2021 we introduced...
12-month subscription providing more flexibility to survey when it suits you, and as many times as you like.
Recognition by sector and region to help you attract and retain the best talent in your local area.
League tables to enable more frequent, quarterly rankings of the Best Companies to Work For.
The introduction of Best Companies Live to bring the community together to learn and grow, and to rank and celebrate the Best Companies to Work For in that quarter.
So, what's changing for 2024?
All the benefits of the 12-month subscription model still apply, with the same flexibility and exposure by region and sector. From October 2023 the following elements will change:
Removal of the quarterly competitive league table elements, with a focus now on meeting the standard of Accreditation to create a more inclusive community.
All currently Accredited organisations will be published on b.co.uk, searchable by size, sector and region.
The Top 100 Best Companies to Work For lists are back. You'll receive an official national, regional and sectoral list position at the end of each year.
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Survey, improve & be recognised, all in one subscription.
Your 12-month subscription allows you to survey as many times as you like.
Survey to achieve your Accreditation when best suits your organisation.
Use your subscription to action plan and improve, not just for recognition.
Whenever you survey, you’ll still be eligible for entry into the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For lists.
The third-party validation you need to drive your EVP and attract the very best talent.
Achieve your official Accreditation 48hrs after closing your survey.
Utilise your Accreditation to showcase yourselves as a ‘Word Class’ employer.
Utilise your company profile via b.co.uk to validate your achievement.
View other accredited organisations via b.co.uk, filterable by size, sector & region at any time throughout the year.
Connecting a community to share ideas, learn and grow together – inspiring change.
Best Companies Live events throughout 2024.
Bringing the community together to learn and grow from ‘people focussed’ thought leaders.
Showcasing organisations joining the community as they receive their official 2024 Accreditation.
See how you compare to the rest of the organisations in the UK, your sector and in your region.
Achieve a ranking as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the UK.
Feature as one of the Best to Work for in your sector & region.
Celebrate your achievement at our annual Awards ceremony in November 2024.
Be shortlisted to win special awards such as ‘Best Leader’.
Since 2006, our Accreditation has set a standard of excellence towards which many organisations aspire, but only the best achieve. Achieving recognition from Best Companies provides you with unrivalled PR and Marketing opportunities, showcasing your organisation as part of a nationally recognised and respected scheme.
We award Accreditation based on the unique BCI score generated by your b-Heard survey. Your BCI score is scored on a fixed scale of 0 - 1000 and if high enough, you will receive either a ‘One to Watch’ status, or 1 – 3 Star accreditation. Your achievement can help you attract and retain the best talent and give you an accurate benchmark against which to compare your engagement levels year-on-year, as well as seeing how you compare to others.
Ones to Watch is a special status awarded to organisations where workplace engagement shows promising signs for the future. A Ones to Watch status reflects 'good' levels of workplace engagement
A 1 Star Accreditation from Best Companies is a significant achievement that shows an organisation is taking workplace engagement seriously. The 1 Star Accreditation signifies 'very good' levels of workplace engagement.
A 2 Star Accreditation is our second highest standard of workplace engagement and represents organisations striving for the top. A 2 Star accreditation is made possible only through an 'outstanding' commitment to workplace engagement.
A 3 Star Accreditation is our highest standard of workplace engagement, representing organisations that truly excel. The 3staraccreditation reflects 'world class' levels of workplace engagement.
At the end of the year at our Best Companies Awards, this is where we will officially reveal the list of the Best Companies to Work For by size, region and sector. At this point you’ll be awarded your relevant assets dependant on where you have placed in each of the lists. As an example, this could include assets to officially state that you are a Top 10 Best Large Company To Work For, Top 10 in Technology and Top 25 in London.
Yes, the 2024 survey window is between 1st October 2023 and 30th September 2024. You can survey at any point during this timeframe to achieve a 2024 Accreditation and ensure you have an eligible score to place you as one of the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For that will be announced in November 2024.
No matter when you survey between the dates of 1st October 2023 and 30th September 2024, your official Accreditation score will be taken into account when we reveal the lists of the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For in November 2024.
As long as these surveys happen within the 12-month subscription and survey launches at least 4 weeks before your subscription expiry date
Based on rankings only being revealed once at the Best Companies Awards in November the timeline is flexible however we have provided a loose guide as to which Best Companies Live we’ll be introducing newly Accredited to the Best Companies community. You can survey flexibly throughout the 12-months as you will not need to wait until Best Companies Live to receive your Accreditation.
Chief Executive Officer
Helping to maintain a sense of unity and prevent organisational politics.
Head of People
Tapping into the pools of talent that are available and there is a lot of talent
Chief Executive Officer
Empowering people to think and make decisions themselves motivates them most.
Chief Executive Officer
Pivotal to manager development is the philosophy of development for all
People Director
We talk about wellbeing all the time. It's about highlighting and focusing.
Managing Director
Sharing responsiblility with everyone to help move business forward.
Chief Executive Officer
Be that supportive leader when things are difficult as well as when things are easy
