“JUST OK” IS never good enough at this East Anglian recruiter. Luckily, in its first year of entry it has been voted a top-25 Best Company. The firm, based in Bury St Edmunds, finds people for professional and technical jobs and has three offices in Suffolk and Norfolk. The business is expanding, from 44 to 65 employees last year and with revenues and profits increasing annually since 2010. It's a tight team, even though 22 people joined in the past six months. Hard work is rewarded with trips abroad to Marbella, Prague or Dublin, forays to five-star hotels in London or Ascot racecourse, and meals in local restaurants. All this gives a buzz to teamwork (an 88% positive score), and people say colleagues go out of their way to help (94%, and the highest ranked result at fourth). There's fierce competition, too — but only when people are challenged to wear the most outrageous tie (results are posted on Facebook). People are encouraged to use all their skills (72%) by offering courses for other employees, and much training is done through internal coaching and shadowing. Last year more than a third of staffers had promotions, with role model examples (89%) such as sales director Richard Mould and operations director Mark Fletcher, who started as consultants and less than five years later are part of the senior team. Bosses talk openly and honestly (92%), while senior managers stay in touch by hot-desking at all three offices. “We have big ambitions for the future, so it will come as no surprise that we expect a lot from our people,” the company says. The downside is feeling exhausted on most days (just 45% positive, the 89th score nationally). The firm funds qualifications such as human resources awards from the CIPD, and Prince2 (projects in controlled environments) management courses. People say jobs are good for personal growth (93%, a top-10 score), and there are few limits to the chances to learn and develop (84%). There are uncapped personal commissions for sales staff and pay feels fair for the recruitment industry (82%). Other perks include a week of extra holiday after each three years of service, an extra day off for the top fee-earner of the quarter, plus mobile phones, computers and a car allowance for some. And Fridays always bring the added fizz of the beer fridge. www.cooperlomaz.co.uk
