Skiers heading down the slopes of top resorts such as Aspen, Courchevel or Verbier this weekend will be staying warm and dry — thanks to the breathable, waterproof fabric made by W L Gore & Associates in their snowsuits, making sports activities in the freezing cold a pleasure.

Patients around the world undergoing life-saving surgery will receive medical products developed by the company’s pioneering scientists and engineers using the same product used in clothing — PTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene, a versatile polymer.

Committed to technological accomplishment, the firm is breaking new ground once again this year by topping the 100 Best Companies to Work For list for the third successive year.

Launched by American couple Bill and Vieve Gore in 1958, it wasn’t long before W L Gore’s products were found on the moon, in military clothing and in the world’s highest-performing equipment. Today its technology is found in everything from computer cables to guitar strings, spacesuits and architectural textiles exposed to long hours in the sun.

The commitment and passion of the firm’s 425 Scottish-based empployees is as watertight as its products. Come rain or shine, the company, which has two sites in Livingston and one in Dundee, is guaranteed the highest levels of creativity, team effort and passion. Staff positive scores for belief in the values of the organisation, pride in working for Gore, being able to make a difference and loving their jobs at 93%, 93%, 92% and 90% are all top results.

The high satisfaction rates reflect the positive response to the non-hierarchical environment created by Bill Gore, who believed this would encourage creativity. This is a title-free organisation. All staff are associates, and workmates help decide their colleagues’ pay. “It makes us a very productive place to work,” says John Kennedy, the company’s UK representative. “We believe in the individual. If you treat them right they will do good things.”

Would-be-associates can expect to spend up to eight hours being interviewed over as many as three days. Careful selection appears to pay off; more than half the staff have worked at the company for at least 10 years and Gore gets another top score of 75% for staff saying they have their dream job.

John Housego, manufacturing leader for the fabric plant, who has clocked up 10 years’ service, says: “It is not about what you have done, it is about what people think you can do.”

It was this can-do approach that made Alan Caldwell, a process engineer for lamination, jump at the chance of moving from the shop floor to a new position. “I am very happy,” says Caldwell, who has put in nine years. “There are endless opportunities. The level of support I am getting is unbelievable and I am loving the challenge.”

Innovation is the only constant at W L Gore and that suits staff; they would strongly recommend the company as a place to work (with a 95% positive score) and think their job is good for personal growth (92%); they feel they are trusted to do their job by their leaders (90%) who are excellent role models (80%).

The firm, which made profits of £14.6m last financial year on its UK revenue of £105.9m, spent £48,000 on social events and supports workers in charity events. Benefits include a final-salary pension scheme, 26 weeks’ fully paid maternity leave and private healthcare. There is a share-option scheme and profit-related pay. The 83% positive score (the second highest) for happiness with pay and benefits is no surprise.

Flexible working allows staff to balance responsibilities at home and work. Few feel they are taken advantage of; the 80% positive score here is the highest, as is the 91% score for health not suffering because of work.

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