A leap of 40 places up the Best Companies list is proof that northwest corporate and commercial law firm Brabners Chaffe Street pays as much attention to the needs of its staff as it does to those of its clients.

Brabners, based in Liverpool with offices in Preston and Manchester, has expanded rapidly in recent years in terms of employee numbers and income. There are now 363 people on its payroll and its legal eagles helped income reach £27m in the last financial year.

The firm is also an active participant in Eurolegal and the Association of European Lawyers. Combined, these two networks provide the company with representation in 83 offices in 35 countries throughout Europe and elsewhere around the world.

Law firms are renowned for their long hours culture, but not this one. With nearly 200 years of tradition behind it, Brabners hasn’t survived by working its staff into the ground. In fact, senior managers discourage people from doing excessive hours. Employees don’t feel too stressed and have realistic deadlines. With a 75% positive score, just 14 companies ranked higher on this question. There is also job security (80%).

Related Internet Links

• Company website

• Brabner's entry in 2007

• Brabners Chaffe Street's 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

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A litany of reasons ensure people enjoy coming in each day, including the good working conditions and financial rewards as well as the way the company invests in the local community and does its bit to protect the environment.

One trainee says: “Hard work is rewarded and the firm isn’t a big, faceless commercial place. There is always time for a joke and a chat and, although we’ve expanded a lot in the past couple of years, we’ve retained a nice, family style.”

With a solid reputation for quality legal services, people feel proud to be a part of such a long-standing and respected organisation, earning Brabners an 81% positive result. Staff care a lot about each other (80%) and would recommend the firm as a place to work (83%).

The company takes on nine trainee solicitors each year and, while expected to work hard, they have plenty of opportunities to have fun too. Trainees are encouraged to organise regular social events, including the annual Christmas party, where they often provide the supporting entertainment, and employees are members of a football league and regularly take part in other sports.

All this appears to be good for their wellbeing. People say their health is not suffering because of work (81%) and they are pretty happy with the balance between their work and home life (71%, just outside the top 20).

In its refurbished open-plan offices senior managers are in the centre and there is a strong culture of teamwork built on shared commitment to the same high standards.

A programme of internal communications, from the intranet and internal newsletters to meetings and a monthly message from the managing partner, keep staff abreast of company successes and developments. Maintaining good communications with initiatives such as these engages employees and makes them feel involved and excited about where the organisation is going, particularly as it grows.

Benefits such as profit-related pay, life assurance, an employee assistance programme and childcare vouchers also keep people happy (74%). Brabners staff say they don’t feel under too much pressure to perform well (76%) and that senior managers listen to them (72%), all top 20 scores.

People are certainly not in a rush to leave. Many have lifelong friends here and their working life forms part of their social life. One in four people have clocked up more than a decade of service. Not even the promise of a better offer would tempt them away. Employees say they would not leave even if they were offered another job (81%, a top 20 score).

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