The IT firm Rackspace has created a fun and caring environment that nurtures individual talent.

Staff would strongly recommend working for the company, giving an 85% positive score, and say they love working for the organisation (82%) and are proud to belong to it (85%), all top 20 scores nationally.

The London-based firm, founded in 2001, encourages regular breaks. As well as a cafe it has a games room offering table tennis, darts and video games. With a social budget of £35 a month per person, staff also get the opportunity to undertake a variety of activities together such as visiting the theatre and theme parks, and going out for dinner and on boating trips.

All these bonding opportunities mean employees feel a strong sense of family in their teams, recording a 78% positive score, and say colleagues go out of their way to help them (82%), both earning top 20 rankings. Working in their teams also gives them a buzz (76%), a result bettered by just eight other companies in our list.

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

Rackspace employees feel work is good for their personal growth, giving the firm an 85% positive score. They also report that the experience gained is valuable for their future (also 85%), the fourth best for this statement. People give the same score again for believing they can make a valuable contribution to the success of the organisation, a rating bettered by just two other organisations.

Communication is strong with monthly company-wide meetings. Quarterly reviews give employees the opportunity to rate their peers and superiors, and provide feedback for senior managers. Rackspace recognises that its workforce have great ideas and people are encouraged to submit them through a change management committee, all of which ensures staff are actively involved in company improvements.

Such strategies result in employees feeling that managers talk openly and honestly with them and care about them as individuals (both 81%), and that they are fully involved at work (80%).

Rackspace’s flexible benefits system equates to an extra £500 for each staff member. Options include tax-free bike schemes, childcare vouchers, gym membership, a pension — with the company matching employee contributions — health insurance and private medical care. Loyalty is rewarded with additional benefits for each year of service, rising to up to £1,000, tax-free, for five years’ service. Employees are excited about where the company is going, giving it a top five-rated 86% positive score.

Explore Career & Jobs

• Graduate / Management

• Senior Executive

• PA / Secretarial

• Public Sector

• Legal

• Recruiter Forum

• MBA

• Top 100 Graduate Employers

• Top 50 Women

• Best 100 Companies

• Careers in