Hobbycraft and Softwire named Best Companies to Work For Q2 2023

Craft retailer Hobbycraft and software firm Softwire were named among the Best Companies to Work For in Q2 2023.

The Best Companies league tables for small, mid-sized, large and big employers were revealed during a live event at Salford’s MediaCity last Friday. Businesses were ranked using a methodology that included employees’ responses to an engagement survey, which produced a Best Companies Index score.

The top 10 small businesses were:

1. Claremont Consulting
2. In Technology Group
3. Enfuse Group
4. Ghyston
5. TLC Marketing Worldwide
6. AppLearn
7. Masentó Group
8. deverellsmith
9. Evenlode Investment Manaegement
10. Carparison

The top 10 mid-sized businesses were:

1. FSP
2. Tommies Childcare
3. Gleeson Recruitment Group
4. Premier Group Recruitment
5. M Lambe Construction
6. ramsac
7. SF Recruitment
8. Engage Partners
9. Sharpe Pritchard
10. Transparity

The top 10 large businesses were:

1. Softwire
2. Chess
3. Hydrock
4. Sumo Group
5. Intuit QuickBooks
6. Kingsley Napley
7. Brabners
8. The Investigo Group
9. Danske Bank
10. Weaver Vale Housing Trust

The top 10 big businesses were:

1. Hobbycraft
2. J Murhphy and Sons
3. ISG
4. Roadchef
5. Mears Group
6. UK Power Networks
7. Card Factory
8. NHS Business Services Authority
9. NATS
10. VetPartners

Best Companies moved to quarterly league tables from an annual list last year to allow workplaces to survey their business up to four times per year, offering more opportunities to showcase what makes them a great place to work.

Jonathan Austin, founder and chief executive officer of Best Companies, said: “There are businesses that truly shine in challenging times. They continue to innovate and put their people at the forefront of everything they do, these are the businesses we're celebrating today. Through Best Companies Live, we're giving them a platform to inspire others and help make the world a better workplace.”

Alfie Neville, sales director at Claremont Consulting, added: “It’s a big achievement and something we’re really proud of. We’ve retained it [the award] which shows that we’re doing the right things for our employees. Health and wellbeing is at the forefront of our employee policy. The most important thing about wellbeing is the culture that we have managed to create at our business.”

Pete Grosse, chief people officer, and Jack Tame, employee experience executive at FSP Consulting Services, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised and we’re proud of the work our team has done. We believe that a fun workplace results in harder work output and teams that are committed to the organisation.”

Yemi Olagbaiye, client director at Softwire, added: “We have always wanted to be a very open and transparent business. We want to let our employees know where we’re going and why; what are the business values and how can they work towards this. But it’s about the feedback loop as well; what are our employees are saying to us and how can we support them.”

Dominic Jordan, chief executive officer at Hobbycraft, said: “When we say engaging with staff and their wellbeing and welfare, it’s all well and good saying these buzzwords, but you’ve got put the actual work in to ensure the success of your employees and your business.”