Building a solid relationship with its employees is a top priority for construction recruitment firm Hill McGlynn. Based in Southampton and operating from 14 sites throughout the UK, Hill McGlynn, founded in 1976, provides recruitment services for the construction industry in the UK and overseas.

Customers include family-run businesses and multinational organisations, with the company providing bricklayers, architects and surveyors as well as electricians, engineers and commercial directors.

Since appearing in our list for the first time in 2006, the company claims the survey has really focused the senior management team and board of directors on ensuring the organisation reviews and delivers initiatives to make Hill McGlynn an even better place for its workforce.

The firm has always had a culture of rewarding and recognising staff for their achievements and hard work. Employees can benefit from flexible hours, job sharing, home working, reduced hours and sabbaticals. The firm provides laptops, mobile phones and BlackBerrys. Improved pension and performance-related pay are also offered. There are regular support conferences as well as an annual overseas conference for all staff.

Related Internet Links

• Company website

• Hill McGlynn's entry in 2007

• Hill McGlynn & Associates' entry in 2006

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

According to our survey, employees are happy with the company. They award management a 79% positive score for living the values of the organisation and 80% for regularly expressing appreciation for a job well done, bothtop 20 scores.

Staff feel managers talk openly and honestly with them, giving an 83% positive score and believe managers care about them as individuals (81%), both ranking Hill McGlynn in the top 10.

They also feel their manager motivates them to give their best every day (73%) and have confidence in the leadership skills of managers, giving them an 80% positive score, again both top 10 results.

Mentoring from senior managers is the norm and the firm aims to develop trainees into managers. The company is proud of its staff development and career progression programme. More than 90% of its management team are home-grown and 80% of directors also joined the company as trainees.

The firm does its best to help workers who wish to change direction in their career and many have retrained and taken on different roles in the organisation. Some people have moved from accounts to marketing or from being a personal assistant to an IT trainer.

Hill McGlynn also has overseas offices where staff are able to relocate.

Employees believe their jobs are good for personal growth, awarding the firm an 81% positive score. They also feel the training is of great benefit to them (74%) and that managers help them to fulfil their potential (75%).

Benefits include free private healthcare and childcare for all, life assurance and car allowance, along with pension and performance-related pay. Charitable work, both nationally and locally, has also proved popular with staff. People say they are proud to work for the company, giving it an 84% positive score, would recommend it to others (86%) and love working for the firm (81%).

Explore Best 100 Companies

• Best 100 Tables