Strong working relationships cement the company culture at Hill McGlynn & Associates. Staff at this recruitment agency — winner of our special award for most improved company — specialise in the construction industry, enlisting candidates from bricklayers to commercial managers for local and multinational businesses.

A firm foundation of robust leadership under Stephen Hill, founder and executive chairman, ensures everyone knows they are valued and that people feel proud to work for the company. Faith in Hill’s management scored 86% positive — earning a top 10 ranking — and pride in working for the firm returned an 84% result.

All main board directors regularly visit offices and both UK managing directors spend three days per week at departments throughout the country. Hill’s visits tend to be informal and often involve him taking the team out for an evening. This hands-on approach doesn’t go unnoticed by staff, whose confidence in the senior management team scored 85% positive.

Annual conferences are not solely the preserve of the firm’s upper echelons. All staff, from junior secretaries to board directors, come together to celebrate company, team and individual successes. Goody bags are given to each employee as they arrive at the conference and, at the dinner afterwards, everyone sits together, irrespective of job title. Employee achievements are celebrated via a raft of annual awards. There is also a summer ball and a management weekend for all managers and their other halves.

These touches help to create close bonds between colleagues; working with fun teams scored 89% positive, the highest of any company, confidence in others’ abilities scored 84% and senior managers truly living the organisation’s values returned an 86% positive result.

Recently promoted employees are invited to a champagne reception with senior managers at the annual conference. With 95% of the company’s senior management being “home-grown”, it is unsurprising to learn that staff rate their jobs as good for personal growth (83%).

There are also opportunities to work abroad at Hill McGlynn’s international bases and employees have progressed from secretarial support roles to recruitment consultants. The Australian business was set up by a former London director and 10% of its staff have transferred to it from the UK arm. The personal development of individual employees means a higher percentage of staff stay with the organisation longer than the industry norm.

As with most recruitment firms, remuneration is healthy. Consultants earn on average £60,000 — which comprises basic salary, car allowance and commission. Happiness with pay and benefits scored 73% positive.

Other tangible benefits include free private healthcare for employees and their families. While no types of flexible working are offered, staff are provided with laptops, mobile phones and BlackBerrys in order to work away from their normal office location. Team members get 23 days’ holiday per year, rising to 25 once they have served two years. Maternity and paternity leave is statutory rather than enhanced. However, the company does offer both noncontributory and contributory pension schemes.

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