I’m a lawyer – get me out of here!” This is a common cry from solicitors who have spent too long in the City, according to Simon Chadwick. In 1991, he and Justin Nott set up Chadwick Nott, a company that finds jobs for lawyers and support staff, often in blue-chip or regional businesses.

When they started, the depths of recession provided an opportunity. “We found quickly that lawyers in London were being made redundant, but in the regions the wave came later. To the present day, we have a lot of people who reach the point of wanting to get out, and companies in the regions disposed to recruit them,” Chadwick says.

But as well as placing people in jobs – whether they are partners or legal secretaries – the business does its best to make sure its own workforce is happy. Based in Bristol, and with offices in Birmingham, Manchester, London and Reading, the company has 50 staff, typically recruitment consultants.

Most people earn between £15,000 and £25,000 but there is scope to increase salaries. Staff feel fairly paid relative to others in the firm, with a positive score of 82%, the fourth highest in the survey. They also feel fairly paid for their responsibilities (83%) and compared to similar roles in other organisations (79%).

Related Internet Links

• Company website

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

BACKGROUND

• Hats off to great leadership

• Getting the message across loud and clear

• Fly high with the X Factor

• Why it pays to know what you’re doing

BACKGROUND

• Charity wins top small company award

• Special awards for best practice

• Rules of engagement

• 100 Best SME's to work for 2008

Multimedia

• Best Small Companies to Work For 2008

• Highlights from the awards ceremony

Annual leave starts at 23.5 days and everyone can work from home. A few employees have reduced hours or job share and the company provides laptops and BlackBerrys.

Staff feel the firm’s flexible working policies and general attitude ensure a relaxed office life. They don’t spend too much time working (82%) – the top score for this question, are not under too much pressure to concentrate (87%), haven’t had recent stress-related symptoms (90%) and don’t feel exhausted at the end of most days (69%).

People feel that senior managers listen to them and say that their managers are open and honest (both questions score 89%).

They would recommend the firm to others (93%) and appreciate the company motto: “Life happens – we’ll live with that as a business.”

Explore Best 100 Companies

• Best 100 Tables