INSPIRATIONAL TALKS, MOTIVATIONAL challenges and open dialogue provides iris employees with a culture that enables them to thrive. In 1999, Ian Millner and Stewart Shanley, the joint chief executives, formed the advertising agency with Sean Reynolds, the firm's global director. The business has since grown to include bases around the world, in Amsterdam, Delhi, Sydney, Melbourne and New York. In Southwark, London, the 357 employees turn out campaigns for the likes of Philips, Unilever, Sony Ericsson, Britvic, Shell and Adidas. The company is still 100% independent, which means it maintains its focus on clients and employees as opposed to shareholders. As a result employees show they believe they have a positive future ahead of them within the organisation, with a top five positive score of 81%. They feel they can make a difference in the company (80%) and agree that their work is an important part of their lives (82%). Every year the business invests 5% of its profits into tailored training and development programmes. All members of staff have the chance to take workshops and courses to learn presentation skills, how to deliver inspirational briefings and hone their creative powers, which is why they think their jobs are good for personal growth (83%). Monthly "what's the score" meetings allow the joint chief executives to present the board meeting's content to staff. Drop-in sessions enable employees to engage with senior management about anything they wish, and more than 200 people have taken advantage of the opportunity. The firm also has "doughnut Wednesdays" where colleagues can have a coffee at 9am with any of the agency's partners. The informal approach seems to work, with senior managers gaining top results for listening (75%, in eighth place) and for living the values of the organisation (77%). Managers set and review people's objectives every six months to ensure that they are clear about what's expected of them and where they are headed. They also run review reward meetings to make sure staff are being paid appropriately. Employees feel that their managers care about them as individuals (81%) and talk openly and honestly to them (83%). Both scores are within the top 10 nationally. The set of questions called My Team provide iris with its best result (83% overall, in fifth place). Colleagues go out of their way to help one another and feel a strong sense of family (both 83%, ranking fourth and fifth among all the firms on our list). The advertising agency has forums twice a year where everyone gets together to share details of company performance as well as its strategy for the next six months. This is usually tied in with a team-building event. Last year the firm went to Hyde Park and participated in It's a Knockout-style games, finishing the day with a barbecue and beers. Naturally employees say their teams are fun to work with (87%). www.irisnation.com