Persuading people to work in the tax industry may sound like a tricky task, but staff at Pure Recruitment rank themselves among Britain’s happiest employees.

With an impressive debut position of 11th, it is clear that they love working for the London-based organisation that prides itself on being the UK’s leading recruitment company in taxation and also specialises in banking, finance, legal and treasury services. Its staff give Pure an 89% positive score for this question in our survey.

Chris Nelson and Charles Ferguson, joint managing directors, make sure the company lives by its vision statement: “The difference is personal”. Employees say senior managers truly live the values of the organisation. The 91% score for this question is bettered by just one other firm. The directors and senior managers make an effort to find time for staff, who give their highest factor score for leadership, a positive result of 89%, which ranks Pure seventh. Senior managers have the full confidence of employees (91%) who say they really listen to them (86%). People also have great faith in Nelson and Ferguson and are inspired by their leadership, scoring 92% for both, ranking ninth and fifth respectively.

Line managers are just as popular. People aren’t afraid to voice their concerns to them (88%), say managers talk openly and honestly and that they care about them as individuals (both 90%). Managers are excellent role models and help staff fulfil their potential — both scores of 84% each ranking the company fifth.

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Thirty-one of Pure’s 51 employees earn more than £35,000 a year, and staff are happy with their pay and benefits (83%, a top 10 score). They feel they are paid fairly compared to those in similar positions elsewhere (80%, ranking sixth).

Employees are encouraged to have their say about the company’s future. They believe they can make a difference to the organisation (90%) and make a valuable contribution towards its success (89%). Staff views are also central to a range of decisions from which charity Pure should support to how the firm can be more environmentally friendly. People feel fully involved at work (81%).

Employees say Pure is run on strong values (85%), but giving something back is an area workers think could be improved. With a positive score of just 65%, Pure ranks 61st for this factor. The company is making an effort, however, and Vitalise, a charity that organises short breaks for the disabled, benefits from its fundraising and through staff volunteering at its care centres.

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