Think Money prides itself on putting people first and that includes its employees. From its state-of-the-art training centre to a new gym that staff can enjoy for just 50p a month, and birthday gifts of champagne and free exercise classes, people don’t just think this is a good place to work. They know it is.

Employees, whose job it is to advise people who are in financial difficulties, aren’t only won over by the perks, they like working for a principled organisation and approve of how it is run. The firm earns a 79% positive score for staff having a great deal of faith in Stephen Stylianou, the managing director, who has quarterly “buzz sessions” with people in which he spends an hour and a half discussing the future direction of the company and encouraging them to put forward their ideas on how to improve the business. Little wonder that workers are also excited about where the company is going (79%).

The strong leadership is not restricted just to the man at the top. Senior managers truly live the values of the organisation (75%, ranking 36th among the 100 top companies) and staff have confidence in their leadership skills (76%).

Employees feel good about the fact that they can offer solutions to people overwhelmed by money worries and think the company makes a positive difference to the world we live in (72%). And while the nature of the business is serious, people have fun in their teams (79%) and care about each other (78%).

Related Internet Links

• Company website

• Think Money Group'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

• Highlights from the awards ceremony

Nonetheless it is hard work and staff often go home feeling exhausted (with a positive score of just 38% for this question).

Benefits include free eye tests, childcare vouchers, discounted services and extra holidays.

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