A party last summer on RS Hispaniola, permanently moored on London’s Victoria Embankment, confirmed that life is pretty much plain sailing for staff at property development and construction company Mount Anvil, which has shot up our rankings this year from 70th to 25th.

With twice-yearly staff briefings, team meetings, a company newsletter and e-mail updates, people feel fully involved at work, giving an 83% positive score, and say they are excited about the company’s future (85%).

The Hertfordshire-based firm works on brownfield sites in the capital. Within six months of being established in 1991, it had secured a contract for the construction of a 650-bed student accommodation complex in Greenwich, southeast London.

In 2007, the firm donated almost £100,000 to charity — about 2% of profits. Staff believe it makes a positive difference to the world (69%) and that it is run on strong principles (88%).

Related Internet Links

• Company website

• Mount Anvil's entry in 2007

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

A generous profit-sharing scheme saw 60% of staff paid a bonus worth more than 10% of their salary last year. But employees don’t believe profit and budget concerns are the only things driving the company, giving a top 20 positive score of 80%.

Killian Hurley is chief executive and has been with Mount Anvil for 16 years. Staff have confidence in the leadership of the senior managers (87%) and have a great deal of faith in Hurley — a score of 92% ranks the company eighth for this question.

More than 10% of employees have an equity interest in the company. They are happy with the pay and benefits they receive (81%). A total of 58 out of 90 staff members earn more than £35,000. They feel they are paid fairly compared to similar organisations (74%, ranked 22nd).

No company in this survey has a higher regard for health and safety; employees gave a near-perfect 96% positive score when asked about Mount Anvil’s approach in this area.

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