Brand Learning helps other companies to create better customer-focused marketing, and it doesn’t have any trouble selling itself to its own employees. Staff at this consultancy based in Kingston upon Thames feel a strong sense of family and people are excited about where the organisation is going, a top 10 positive score of 91%, and are fully involved at work (87%).Employees feel profit isn’t the only thing driving the company (87%), and the business is run on strong principles (92%) — the second highest result in the list.

Andy Bird and Mhairi McEwan, the inspiring founders and joint managing directors, have close contact with the staff. Employees say senior managers do a lot of listening (87%) and the two leaders meet all new starters.

Although the firm has middling scores for its pay and benefits, almost half of the 62 staff earn more than £55,000 a year. Maternity leave is increased to the equivalent of an extra 13 weeks at full salary if new mothers return to work after the normal period of leave.

“We try to get a good balance between what we can afford as a small business and fairness — the vast majority of our employees are female,” explains McEwan.

Related Internet Links

• Company website

Turning up the Heat pays off

Strong training and a sense that work is to be enjoyed add up to Heat powering past its rivals into top spot this year

Background

• Hats off to great leadership

• Getting the message across loud and clear

• Fly high with the X Factor

• Why it pays to know what you’re doing

Background

• Charity wins top small company award

• Special awards for best practice

• Rules of engagement

• 100 Best SME's to work for 2008

Multimedia

• Best Small Companies to Work For 2008

• Highlights from the awards ceremony

Staff development plans are written by employees themselves and there is an annual training programme open to all and often held in the Soft Loft — a top-floor den of sofas, which is also the venue for “knowledge knibbles”, voluntary training sessions on work-related subjects, made tastier with the addition of a free lunch.

Holiday allowance is 25 days a year for all. Staff are happy with the balance of work and home life (83%) and love working for the firm (89%).

Explore Best 100 Companies

• Best 100 Tables