One of the more civilised perks at Tate is a “top table”, offering different employees every quarter the chance to have lunch with the managing director of the office recruitment company.

Julia Robertson, who has led the company for 12 years, makes a real effort to communicate directly with everyone and knows all of her 130-strong team by name, quite a feat, with 19 locations from Leeds to the head office in London.

Staff rank this strong Leadership 18th overall in our survey, with an 87% positive score. They say that Robertson is inspiring (89%), she inspires a great deal of faith (92%) and runs the business on sound principles (87%).

The company got off to a good start back in 1985 when Lady Virginia Tate started her “jewel” of a consultancy with its seven official values that include collaboration, respect, honesty and a winning mentality.

Robertson asks staff to challenge her, or any of the senior team, if they do not follow them. Fortunately, employees say that senior managers truly live the values (88%).

There’s a £100,000 a year fun budget, which goes a long way to fostering a happy crowd, internal competitions and incentives, and staff say there’s a strong sense of family in each team (85%) as well as a buzz (82%). A buddying system helps colleagues to care about each other (91%).

Tate has been a top 100 firm since 2007 but achieved its highest score this year after offering senior staff monthly sessions with a business mentor to get new people management ideas. Employees say that their manager cares about their job satisfaction (84%), expresses appreciation for a good job done (83%) and shares important information (87% and a top 10 score).

Staff training accredited by the industry body is of great personal benefit (81%). Potential future managers have special monthly coaching, and eight of the last 12 prospects have been promoted.

When one consultant planned to leave the firm to do a degree, Tate instead agreed to sponsor her, pay for the course and give her one study day a week. Managers really do help staff fulfil their potential (82%), and employees love working at Tate (85%).

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