Portsmouth Cathedral was in a quandary. It wasn’t the size of the congregation, or the tuning of the choir — it was the impossibility of booking a room on its antiquated IT system. Taylor Made Computer Solutions stepped in with IT support and ideas for online concert booking systems in the future — and so harmony was restored.

This was just another long-term partnership for the company, which has now won a contract to give IT assistance to the Church of England in the south. Set up by Nigel Taylor, managing director, in 1994, the firm is a close-knit community of 73 people, working in central southern England.

It is also a little bit different, not least because staff all wear a free uniform, from director to new starter. It started off with navy blue and white polo shirts, embroidered with the company logo. Then people wanted shirts for smarter days, and now there is a whole wardrobe offering cardigans, fleeces and even umbrellas.

Despite the uniforms and the open-plan office, staff say there is little confusion about who does what in the organisation, with a positive score of 85%. Taylor and other directors personally mentor members of staff as part of the “buddy system” and people feel senior managers truly live the values of the organisation (91%), are confident in their leadership (93%) and have faith in Taylor (93%) to act as well as to listen (87%).

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

• Highlights from the awards ceremony

The firm, based at Fareham in Hampshire, is flexible about work and almost everyone does some from home, with network access, 3G mobile phone cards, laptops and other necessary IT equipment provided.

People are encouraged to take time off in lieu for long hours and leave is generous. Each year of employment earns a further 1.5 days off, up to 33 days annually. Nonetheless, the work is relatively pressured, with a positive score of only 73% for people saying they are not under so much stress that they can’t concentrate, ranking 73rd.

Explore Best 100 Companies

• Best 100 Tables