Who’s #1?
No big dogs like Microsoft, Rolls-Royce, EY or Harrods have made Glassdoor’s list of the top 25 UK employers.
Topper on the list was travel website Expedia with a 4.4 rating.
AKQA, a creative agency, is among 15 employers debuting as best places to work this year, along with GE (#4, 4.2 rating), Schuh (#5, 4.1 rating), Oxfam (#6, 4.1 rating) and ARM Holdings (#7, 4.1 rating), among others.
Google, last year’s #1 employer with a 4.4 rating, ranks #8 this year (with a 4.1 rating) and is among only 10 employers that have made it on to this list for two years in a row.
The good thing about Glassdoor’s ranking is that they are based solely on the input of employees who voluntarily provide anonymous feedback, by completing a company review, about their job, work environment and employer over the past year.
Take a look at the top 25 best UK companies to work for:
1. Expedia
Company Rating: 4.4
“Strong, friendly work culture. Work life balance is seen as very important by all. Very supportive management team. So many perks! Free breakfast once a month, travel, health etc.” –Expedia Finance Manager (London)
2. Hays plc
Company Rating: 4.4
“Hays is an amazing company to work for. It is a friendly environment, great for progression and opportunities for your career. Training Programmes and their careers fare are very insightful and made me choose Hays! If you don’t believe me come see for yourself.” Hays Travel Administrator (London)
3. AKQA
Company Rating: 4.2
“Great projects, fun corporate events, nice touches like free fruit and snacks, top management, enjoyable work environment with on-site gym and training, awesome client list.” AKQA Web Developer (London)
4: GE
Company Rating: 4.2
“Training first class, challenging assignments, strong senior leadership with critical structure for finance.” GE Site Leader (Cheltenham)
5: Schuh Limited
Company Rating: 4.1
“Good pay for a high street store. Very flexible ideal for students. Good discounts. Great people. Good management. Latest technology making it easier to assist customers.” Schuh Limited Employee (London)
6: Oxfam
Company Rating: 4.1
“With a few employers to compare against Oxfam is truly a great place to work. With such a huge range of business and programme activities I’m amazed at how it operated together, and how everybody felt they had a stake in the success of the organisation. From top to bottom people were really committed to doing their best for the organisation.” Oxfam Executive (Oxford)
7. ARM Holdings
Company Rating: 4.1
“Good work/life balance. Technically challenging and fascinating work. Innovation and proactivity recognised and rewarded. Very friendly. Some very, very bright people!” ARM Holdings Employee (Cambridge)
8. Google
Company Rating: 4.1
“Career-wise this is a great place to work. There are opportunities for anyone who is willing to build a reputation. The work itself, the smart people and the perks: a Japanese restaurant serving up Asian food every day for free! Google Senior Software Engineer (London)
9. Unilever
Company Rating: 4.0
“Improved performance focus over the last couple of years. Cross-functional working and team development are high priorities. Great leadership and clarity of vision. Work life balance and flexible working are brilliant.” Unilever Category Manager (Leatherhead, Surrey)
10. London Underground
Company Rating: 4.0
“They protect their employees, fair and consistent and very good salaries” London Underground IM Training Coordinator (London)
11. PageGroup
C
ompany Rating: 3.9
“A brilliantly driven business with an engaging and open senior leadership team, no ivory towers here and a business that career hungry, driven and talented individuals can thrive in. A rewarding environment where employees can earn good money and get the career recognition they deserve.” PageGroup Manager (Reading)
12. easyJet
Company Rating: 3.9
“The greatest thing about working for easyJet is the fact that no two days are the same, and each day is presented with new challenges. All staff are willing and always able to offer to help. Management are fantastic and really understanding.” easyJet Cabin Crew (Stansted)
13. Arup
Company Rating: 3.9
“Fantastic team, a truly principled leadership and a very flexible work environment.” Arup Fire Engineer (Sheffield)
14. Amec Foster Wheeler
Company Rating: 3.9
“Management are flexible and treat staff like adults. Always a good atmosphere and broad range of staff.” Amec Foster Wheeler Engineer (Glasgow, Scotland)
15. Royal Dutch Shell
Company Rating: 3.9
“Great culture, smart but supportive and collaborative bunch of colleagues. Generally fair treatment of employees. Super transparent and open even in most sensitive topics.” Royal Dutch Shell Mid Senior Manager (London)
16: John Lewis
Company Rating: 3.9
“As every employee of the firm is considered a partner, everyone gets a say in how the business is run. This can be minute details to the christmas advert but all partner opinions are vitally important.” John Lewis Stock Management Partner, (London)
17. J.P. Morgan
Company Rating: 3.9
“Great leadership and one of the best Banks to work for. Good Salary and work life balance. Would highly recommend.” J.P. Morgan Executive Director (Bournemouth)
18. Cisco Systems
Company Ratings: 3.9
“Cisco genuinely cares for the society and works towards the betterment and upbringing of the society, which is one of the best things I like about Cisco.” Cisco Help Desk Analyst (Reading)
19. Goldman Sachs
Company Ratings: 3.9
“There are many resources available to develop your technical and interpersonal skills. You are working with very smart people and there are opportunities for those who are adaptable.”Goldman Sachs Vice President (London)
20. Credit Suisse
Company Ratings: 3.9
“Credit Suisse has a great culture for pushing employees to do their best while still being very friendly. There is politics but I’ve found it to be minimal.” Credit Suisse Business Analyst (London)
21. PwC
Company Ratings: 3.8
“Strong emphasis on development and especially self-directed development. Very easy to manoeuvre into the industry you most enjoy, which makes it easier that not might appear to carve out a niche for yourself.” PwC Associate (London)
22. Yell
Company Ratings: 3.8
“The training is second to none and they take you from starting point to a highly knowledgeable digital marketing consultant with an in depth knowledge of the marketplace at great pace.” Yell Digital Marketing Consultant (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
23. Procter & Gamble
Company Ratings: 3.8
“Plenty of training opportunities and a dynamic career progression throughout the company. Global reach helps you get exposure to di
fferent ways of working.” Procter & Gamble Employee (location n/a)
24. Kantar Worldpanel
Company Ratings: 3.8
“The whole business from CEO down appear to be people focused and compared to other organisations in the market research industry this certainly seems to be backed up by actions.” Kantar Worldpanel employee (London)
25. Waitrose
Company Ratings: 3.8
“We are like a big family and there are always people to talk to and are willing to help you. I can honestly say I don’t see my shift as another day at work instead it’s a day with another one of my families! I wouldn’t swap my job here for the world.” Waitrose Customer Service (Bristol)
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