It might look a complicated business from the outside, but Red Gate Software is all about simplicity. The Cambridge-based company, which develops “ingeniously simple” software tools for database professionals, is also straightforward in the way it treats its staff. The firm has almost doubled in size with 47 new joiners in the past year, which may explain the low score for the “family” feeling of teams, but the 95 employees still feel good about work.

The private company offers an impressive set of benefits. Everyone has share options, Bupa healthcare including their families, critical illness cover, life assurance and income protection. After three months, staff can join the pension scheme in which the firm matches their contribution of 5% of salary. Everyone has 25 days of holiday – with the option to “buy” or “sell” five days in exchange for salary – and there is travel insurance so they can get away worry-free.

A third of the software engineers earn more than £35,000 a year, and people are happy with pay and benefits (81%), saying salaries are competitive for the industry (76%) and fair for their responsibilities (75%).

The company tries to keep people well, too, with reduced rates for gym membership (and various sports), a concierge service and by paying for events such as champagne punting, private cinema screenings and lunch for everyone every Thursday. Meanwhile, the offices have a quiet room and kitchen with a decent coffee machine and a “feelgood fridge” stocked with fruit, smoothies and cereals.

Related Internet Links

• Company website

• Red Gate's entry in 2007

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Background

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• Special awards for best practice

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Multimedia

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Red Gate encourages flexible working with “core hours” of 11am to 3pm and plenty of technology to help people work from home or on the move. Employees give the organisation 77% overall for questions on wellbeing, a top 20 score.

Neil Davidson and Simon Galbraith, joint chief executives, have breakfast and lunch with staff every Tuesday, and encourage questions at regular meetings and on the intranet forum.

Everyone has a paid day volunteering and the graduate selection process includes a day’s work at a charity.

The only question left is which type of free massage to choose, four times a year – aromatherapy, sports, Indian head and Swedish treatments are all offered in the office.

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