SOME COMPANIES MAY take their staff on weekends away but not many take the whole team to Nice and include a handy French guide for phrases such as "I like champagne". PR firm GolinHarris, founded by Al Golin in 1956, launched its most recent business drive with a two-day trip to the French Riviera combining conference sessions with dinner, sun and sand. The London-based business, which is back in the Best Companies list after a year away, pumps more than £34,000 a year into its social budget and as a result its youthful team, with an average age of 29, have a lot of fun (a 90% positive score). The 56 employees feel enthused about the vision to double in size and become a £10m company in four years. People are excited about where the business is going (86%) and feel they have a positive future here (86%). When the organisation meets its targets there are drinks for everyone each quarter, while social events include bowling, cinema trips and a visit to the Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Meanwhile, every cluster of desks has £50 a month for a little treat, which helps foster a sense of family (85%) and ensures departments and teams work well together (75%). Work includes inviting a throng of international journalists to a villa in Cannes to meet American actress Eva Longoria and taste Magnum ice cream products, doing PR for Wrigley's and Orange — which is all pretty varied and stimulating, say staff (80%). The founder's favourite saying, apparently, was "You have to look forward to Monday morning as well as Friday night", and this isn't hard here. GolinHarris invests in strong managers, with two classroom training courses, a mentoring scheme and management meetings. There are also chances for teams to give feedback on their bosses. Managers show regular appreciation for a good job done (84%), deal with issues rather than avoiding conflict (also 84%), and take an active interest in people's wellbeing (85%). This is a place where everyone is treated fairly (81%). People have confidence in the leadership of joint managing directors Matt Neale and Jonathan Hughes (86%). Good work is rewarded with prizes such as the staff-nominated "media god" of the month, who sits in a diamantŽ-encrusted leather chair. The winner of an annual award gets a week in Shanghai, New York, Chicago or Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the GolinHarris person of the year receives three VIP tickets to a big arena such as the O2 — and a new tropical fish named in his or her honour in the company tank. Every employee is entitled to a bursary to do something outside work such as a cooking course, or learning a new language, and staff say they are given the opportunity to grow (78%). Each year everyone also downs tools and goes out in support of a good cause to celebrate the founder's birthday. Last year 16 employees undertook the Three Peaks challenge, raising £4,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support, the firm's nominated charity. It's little surprise that staff love working here (81%). golinharris.co.uk
