People come first at Wragge & Co and that very much includes the staff. Law is a serious business that requires commitment, dedication and motivation, and these only come from a satisfied and happy workforce. This Birmingham-based legal firm certainly has that. Staff give it an 81% positive rating for having fun with colleagues, say the company really tries to help them and would recommend it as a place to work (both 80%).

A quick look at some of its worker-friendly policies helps explain why one in 10 employees has been here for more than 15 years and why it has featured every year so far in our list. Wragge & Co offers staff a range of flexible working options, the chance to have five extra days leave unpaid, in-house yoga and massage sessions and fertility treatment support. It also rewards exceptional effort with prizes such as champagne or dinner for two.

Founded in 1834, this is a forward-thinking company that offers its employees a challenging career in a nurturing meritocracy. Staff say colleagues care about each other (83%, ranking 19th) and trust workmates to do a good job (82%). Managers are praised for trusting staff (77%) and being open and honest (78%).

One of the firm’s distinguishing features is the amount of time and effort senior staff put into delivering training and development. No wonder employees think the experience they gain is good for their future (79%). In addition lawyers gave over 7,000 hours of pro bono advice last year.

The staff are proud to work here (82%) and, despite all their hard work, say their health is not suffering because of their job (79%).

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