DEVOTEES OF PLAYSTATION 3 might not realise when they race its BMW Vision Gran Turismo that the virtual car isn't based on an existing model: instead, it was created for the game by the automotive manufacturer's own designers. Its onscreen performance reflects years of motorsports experience, and anticipates future racing trends. Such attention to detail is applied to everything this multinational company makes, from cars to key fobs, and led it to top Forbes magazine's list of the world's most reputable companies in 2012 and 2013. True believers in the engineering excellence of BMW Group (UK) products, its 387 employees in this country are proud to be part of this organisation, a 90% positive score, ranking first among mid-size businesses in our survey. Staff also say their work is an important part of their lives (86%, ranking fourth on our list). The UK subsidiary's primary purpose is to market and sell cars to a nationwide network of 147 dealers. This country is the only one in the world where all three of its brands — BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce —are represented by manufacturing operations. New managing director Graeme Grieve took up his position in October last year and the company moved into a purpose-built office campus in Farnborough, Hampshire, the next month. The new premises are designed to bring to life the corporate set of values: “authentic, inspirational, collaboration”. Some of the walls were painted black so anybody who wants to can chalk up ideas for future development, and sections of Scalextric track have been distributed to the workforce at all three group sites to encourage people to collaborate on the building of a giant racetrack. Team-building events, such as refurbishing an adventure playground, and imaginative business briefings, including a village fete-themed gathering at Wentworth golf course, underline the commitment to workplace cohesion. Staff feel their colleagues go out of their way to help them (78%) and are fun to be with (78%). People feel their managers talk honestly and openly with them (78%) and care about them as individuals (76%). www.bmw.co.uk
