TEAMS COMPETED IN 24- to 48-hour “hackathons” at engineering consultancy Atkins last year to find solutions to sticky problems, such as improving the experience for motorists on the M25 and passengers at Heathrow airport. As a result of a creative exercise such as this, employees believe they can make a valuable contribution to the firm's success, an 80% positive score. Founded in 1938, this operation has 8,608 people on the payroll in the UK, and reported pre-tax profits of nearly £77m in 2016. The company it is behind the redesign of Birmingham New Street station and the world's first floating wind-turbine platform off the north coast of Scotland near Dounreay. People here gain valuable experience for the future (75%, ninth on this measure) and are happy with their pay and benefits (59%). The average salary of a senior engineer is just under £47,000. For contributions beyond the call of duty, 37 individuals earned special bonuses of up to £3,000 from chief executive Uwe Krueger last year. Everyone is eligible to work staggered hours or share jobs, which makes for a good work/life balance (61%), and people don't feel under too much pressure to perform well (60%). An employee referral scheme is this outfit's second highest source of recruitment, accounting for 17% of new arrivals, and paid out £232,000 for recommendations by employees last year. Colleagues go out of their way to help each other (76%) and don't wish they could leave tomorrow to work elsewhere (64%, ninth). www.atkinsglobal.com
