Digital and cloud expert ANS adopts a collaborative approach to every-day and business activity. Its leaders believe they and the staff are one big team, which is reinforced by the open-office policy.

The Manchester-based company is dedicated to helping organisations achieve their digital ambitions in the cloud and beyond. Specialising in cloud, business applications, artificial intelligence, data analytics and the internet of things, ANS works with public- and commercial-sector organisations to provide the intelligence and insights to enhance services, empower end-users and improve business outcomes.

The company started in 1996, and in less than 25 years has developed into a 250-strong team, including more than 180 technical experts.

Its ethos is that people are key to the success of ANS, which is why it invests heavily in personal development – it even has its own apprentice academy.

The company is dedicated to improving and supporting the mental health of its employees through employee assistance programmes, mental health first aiders, wellbeing weeks and regular check-ins.

ANS is also committed to building a better future for the community and has a corporate social-responsibility team dedicated to fundraising; in 2019 they raised more than £211,000.

Diversity and inclusion are high on the agenda for ANS, too. Last August, it ran a virtual Pride Week to celebrate diversity in tech. The organisation also stages an annual Women in Tech campaign.