The UK’s Best Companies to Work For in 2023 have been unveiled during a spectacular event that firmly put the spotlight on employee engagement and organisational health. The leading workplaces were praised for demonstrating they truly care for their people, particularly in challenging times.
Research shows that companies that prioritise employee wellbeing are more likely to be successful. Our Red Chair panellists discussed how their organisations had built their workplace cultures around employee wellbeing, what practices they have implemented to do this, and answered the question: how are workplace wellbeing and culture related to each other?
We believe that strong team spirit is essential for any successful organisation. In this session, valued members of our community discussed the cultures their managers and teams had instilled to ensure team spirit is high. We hope these insights will inspire you to create a workplace where employees feel like they're part of something bigger than themselves.
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Take a deep-dive into how the leaders of your organisation can effectively lead with purpose from our Best Companies Live event for Q3. Valued members of our community took to the famous red chairs and discussed the initiatives their companies have implemented to improve their employee engagement against the workplace factors of Leadership and Giving Something Back.
Communication is everything to an organisation. Our data and MC³ model shows that managers who can not only effectively inform their employees, but listen to them too will build greater relationships and improve their engagement scores. We know management is one of the most important aspects of a company, that's why our Best Companies Live event for Q2 was dedicated to effective people management. See what insights were shared from valued members of our community who took to the coveted red chairs.
Close working between team members is not an issue in itself; it can hone specialisms and skills. A problem arises when collaboration between teams is rare rather than routine. Has the hybrid working explosion further cemented silo mentalities, or has a post-pandemic change in attitude and workplace norms – including greater use of tech – boosted team communication?
It's a tough time for business. The economic downturn and the rising cost of living are proving just as challenging for organisations as they are for their employees. In times like these, it's easy for businesses to hunker down, but companies need to play the long game, recognising that prioritising employee engagement and continuing to invest in their workforce can strengthen resilience during tough times and help them bounce back faster.
Guest article from Andrew Avanessian, CEO at AppLearn. In February I appeared on Best Companies Live alongside a panel of other business leaders to discuss how we break down silos within our organisations. I think it often goes overlooked, but a business that can break down silos and encourage better collaboration can be stronger and more resilient in an ever-changing landscape.
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Organisations prioritising their employees' personal and professional development – their capabilities, skills and competencies – reap the awards in many ways. They can attract new staff. A global survey of Millennials and Gen Zs found learning and development opportunities to be the second most important reason for joining their current organisation. More than a quarter (29%) see it as a priority.
Despite growing demand for development, many organisations are falling short, 57% saw declines in Personal Growth scores last year. As employees crave more opportunities to learn and progress, the role of the manager has never been more critical in closing the gap. Is your L&D strategy helping or holding you back?
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Once considered redundant, middle managers are now being reimagined as critical connectors in today’s hybrid world, bridging the gap between leaders and teams. By stepping into coaching roles, they can boost engagement, clarify strategy, and drive performance across the board. Could the key to future organisational success lie in the middle?
Organisational clarity means employees clearly understand the company’s purpose, strategy, and their role within it. The Clarity Index - Primary Purpose, Core Principles, Outrageous Ambition, and Ingenious Plan - helps build alignment and engagement. Learn how reinforcing these elements at every level can drive performance, motivation, and a stronger organisational culture.
Great managers don’t just hit targets—they build trust, clarity, and connection. Best Companies’ Manager Index outlines four key behaviours that drive strong employee relationships: Inspire, Support, Listen, and Care. While our data shows many managers connect well with their teams, the challenge lies in linking those relationships to wider organisational goals and direction.
How do you build world class teams? This article looks at The Team Index Model and how by incorporating its methods, organisations can create truly engaged, high-performing teams.
Find out how Simon Grosse, CEO of FSP, created a foundation of success through the One FSP Playbook, focusing on winning behaviours and driving individual responsibility for upholding FSP's standard of excellence.
Discover how DF Capital leveraged Best Companies' data to dramatically improve employee engagement, resulting in a 91% retention rate, a seven-fold increase in lending, and sustainable profitability. Learn how focusing on clear communication and strategic alignment propelled them from Ones-to-Watch to a 3-Star Accredited organisation in just two and a half years.
Keeping hold of the best talent is a challenge that every company faces. Seeking an innovative solution to this problem, ElectraLink introduced a four-day working week. Find out how this practice not only increased recruitment and retention at ElectraLink but also drove organisational success in a range of other metrics.
In November 2024, Linnk Group and its CEO, Jamie Sobrany, were presented with the Best Improver and Best Leader awards. Find out how a combination of Best Companies' data and a people-first strategy not only resulted in these achievements, but also improved retention, recruitment, engagement and productivity at Linnk.
Lord Rose and Lord Sugar have reignited the debate around hybrid working, claiming it harms productivity, personal development, and morale. Their comments reflect broader concerns about the long-term impact of flexible work on individuals and organisations. But do their comments have any truth to them?
Chess has been accredited as a 3-Star "World-Class" organisation for 10 years running, resulting in boosted sales and an overall improvement in business performance. How has its Best Companies data helped the organisation to achieve this level of excellence?
How did APM go from a Ones to Watch to a 2-Star Accredited organisation in four years? How did they increase their revenue from £10 million to £16 million while working with Best Companies? Find out how a data-driven plan led to these successes and more.
Costain first joined Best Companies in 2022 when they were searching for a way to improve employee engagement at their organisation. Find out how they used their data to identify areas of opportunity, to help inform their decision making at a boardroom level, and to increase their organisational health.
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How did Spain utilise clear communication to help them to win the Euros? And how has England developed a strong relationship between leaders, managers, and their team to reach consecutive finals? In this article, we look at how companies can bridge the gap between their leadership teams and their employees to help drive success through organisational clarity.
Newborns bring joy, but also a need for support. Companies are increasingly offering enhanced paternity leave, but is it just a feel-good gesture, or does it impact the business itself? This article explores the data, revealing how strong paternity policies can lead to a happier, healthier, and more productive work environment for everyone.
When it comes to the Leisure & Hospitality and Food & Drink sectors, there's an ongoing challenge when it comes to retention of employees. In this report, find out the key drivers of engagement and understand what really matters to the people at the beating heart of these industries in 2024.
