Mott MacDonald likes to create a lasting impression on people and that includes its staff. It’s clear from looking at the payroll that it does. One in four workers has been with the management, engineering and development consultancy for at least a decade. Such loyalty demonstrates just how content employees are and this is also reflected in its ranking — up three places this year into our top 10.

Croydon-based Mott MacDonald gets the highest scores of all 20 firms for making health and safety a priority (88%) and making a difference to the world we live in (73%).

Its projects range from urban regeneration in the UK to river basin management in central Asia and transport systems in Taiwan and America. Finding challenging work and opportunities to climb the career ladder is not difficult, and there is plenty of support to enable people to learn the ropes and gain experience. As well as inhouse, online and external training programmes that help staff improve their skills and performance, an exchange programme with Mott’s sister company Down Under sees 40 young UK employees currently in Australia.

Staff believe they can make a valuable contribution to the success of the organisation and that the experience they gain is valuable for their future (both 76%).

Related Internet Links

• Company website

• Mott MacDonald's entry in 2007

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

The firm does not have a long hours culture and monitors working hours carefully. Few employees work more than 40 hours a week and they are all entitled to an additional 10 days’ unpaid leave a year. People are

excited about where the organisation is going, are not under too much pressure to perform well (both 69%) and feel their job is secure (78%).

Benefits include low-cost private healthcare, an employee assistance programme, childcare vouchers, life assurance and profit-related pay, and a pension with the company matching the staff contribution of 5.5%.

Mott MacDonald employees say they would not leave tomorrow if offered another job (74%, a score bettered by just three other organisations) and would strongly recommend the company as a place to work (75%).

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• Best 100 Tables