It isn't hard to fall in love with the firm that does PR for DatingDirect.com. Staff are passionate about working for Hill & Knowlton public relations consultancy, with a positive score of 75%. The British firm, set up in 1969, is a subsidiary of the WPP Group, and claims on its website to be "the founder of modern-day public relations", with 71 H&K offices in 40 countries. People, based at two London sites, are offered a variety of benefits. After three years, there is a sabbatical of 12 weeks' paid and another three weeks of unpaid leave, which three employees are currently benefiting from. Although the average service is a modest three years, the 277 staff have a strong sense of job security (the 83% positive score for this ranking the firm among the top 10 best companies). The company fosters teamwork and a sense of fun, with the My Team section scoring an overall positive average of 81%. There is an on-site bar, which serves a free breakfast every day. At night this becomes licensed premises, where new chief executive Sally Costerton even holds quarterly staff meetings, followed by free food. The light-hearted attitude extends to an annual Xcellence awards ceremony, with prizes named after famous things British. The Torvill & Dean is awarded for the best team performance and the Trinny & Susannah for the best team support. People have fun with their colleagues (88% — a score beaten by just six other companies in our survey), have a strong sense of family in their teams (81%, and another score where the firm ranks seventh), and are confident in the abilities of workmates (82%). Staff praise the personal development offered by the firm (80%). About 15% of employees a year attend management courses run by Harvard Business School academics, and there are internal training schemes. Management is open and honest (80%) and Costerton has lunch with 12 different people each month to get feedback. Hill & Knowlton offers pro bono work to three charities, and everyone can choose to donate some of their time to rebranding, organising fundraising events and producing annual reports for good causes. Even so, the company scores just 46% positive for questions on giving something back, a bottom five ranking. Staff may feel that they are spending a little too much time working (also with a positive score of 46%), but there is plenty to look forward to with quiz nights, away days and sports celebrities dropping in at social events.
