THIS TECHNOLOGY COMPANY, which helps corporations manage their email, saw its business expand by almost 25% this year, after eight consecutive years of growth. Not surprisingly, staff are excited about where the organisation is going (an 85% positive top-10 place in our survey of mid-size companies). The London-based firm was started 10 years ago by Peter Bauer and Neil Murray, both originally from South Africa, and now has offices in the US, UK, Australia and South Africa. There are 253 British-based staff, most of them software developers. Employees are known as Mimecasters, and are expected to “adopt a real warrior spirit while still being decent, friendly people”. The company encourages a can-do attitude and works hard to engage its workforce. To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the business commissioned a New York Times photojournalist, Brendan Bannon, to travel around its offices taking portraits, in an exercise designed to be both revealing and fun for all employees. Staff agree they have fun with colleagues (81%) and say that their job is an important part of their lives (83%). With an average salary of £58,000, access to a share-option scheme and free private healthcare for themselves and their families, they are happy with the pay and benefits they receive (70%). Other perks include on-site massages, free fruit and drinks and an incentive programme, The Mimecast Eagles Club, to reward Mimecasters who hit 105% of their annual sales quota. Regular social events, including paintballing, bowling, barbecues, quiz nights and a trip to Chessington World of Adventures for all staff and their families have helped employees bond in the past year. Workers say they feel a strong sense of family in their teams (76%). A high-performance programme is in place for all, and people also have access to internal and external training and mentoring. Everyone at the firm is encouraged to submit product and technology ideas and suggestions to a panel of experts and senior executives, with prizes on offer. Employees agree that their jobs are good for their personal growth (80%). www.mimecast.com
