What does it take to become the best of the best?
Last month, we released our 2025 UK's Best Workplaces List. We analysed anonymous survey responses from over 285,000 UK-based employees to uncover companies with truly exceptional employee experiences. Here we reveal how the Number 1's in each size category earned the top spot.
Fortitude Nicsa Global (FNG)'s focus on employee development has stood out to employees as part of what makes this a truly ‘great place to work’ for all.
Like FNG, the UK’s Best Workplaces recognise that employees want to feel fulfilled in their work, have a sense of purpose and to know what their next career move may be. As nonlinear career paths become increasingly common in organisations, it’s those employers who equip all their people with the skills and support needed to align their job role with their personal and professional goals who will truly see the benefits.
“FNG is open to developing staff training and investing a lot of time in [helping] their employees to work to the best of their abilities,” said one worker in their survey feedback – and 100% of FNG employees agree that they are "offered training or development to further themselves professionally" (compared to the UK average of 60%).
Within a few seconds of scanning Hatmill’s employee survey results, it’s easy to see why employees are thrilled to be working for this Yorkshire-based leader in supply chain and logistics consulting.
Like many Best Workplace organisations, Hatmill stands out for its great leadership and trusting individuals to deliver high quality work without the need for micromanagement or rigid working models. In fact, 100% of Hatmill employees agree ‘management trusts people to do a good job without watching over their shoulders’.
“I’m proud Hatmill has been recognised as THE Best Workplace, says Founder and CEO Simon Dixon. "Our self-managing culture is the key reason people love working at Hatmill. A team that enjoys work always produce the best results, particularly for our clients. Creating a great place to work is central to leading a business and to be ranked in first place is an honour and credit to our amazing team.’’
| Useful Read: 25 Years of UK's Best Workplaces: The Evolution of HR
In addition to valuing their flexibility and feeling a strong sense of camaraderie across the workplace, colleagues at NVIDIA say they greatly appreciate that the company’s “mission is what guides decisions, not hierarchy”.
As one employee explains: “I am trusted to do my job and make decisions. Policies are in place to ensure that there is clarity, but open communication and one-on-one judgements are often used to resolve queries or conflict. This flexible environment fosters a spirit of being listened to as an individual and not just a number following a process.”
It’s a trend that’s becoming increasingly common among Best Workplaces, like NVIDIA, who are cultivating a culture characterised by high-trust leadership, autonomy, and psychological safety. No matter what their role or tenure, employees at these top-performing organisations feel empowered to take risks, share ideas, and admit mistakes freely without fear of negative consequences.
Employees working for the global leader in hospitality frequently noted fun, trust, and colleagues being supportive and welcoming as key reasons why they believe Hilton is such an outstanding place to work. This goes beyond offering industry leading benefits and creating environments where people feel comfortable with speaking up and being their authentic selves.
Employees at Hilton often mentioned their appreciation for “the collective sense of pride and respect for each other”, and value having “the ability to grow one’s career internally without having to change companies.”
“More and more people see hospitality as a dynamic and rewarding career," says Simon Vincent, CBE EVP & President EMEA. "At Hilton, our 18,000+ UK Team Members bring Conrad Hilton’s vision to life, filling the earth with the light and warmth of hospitality. Their dedication creates
opportunities, shapes careers, and delivers exceptional service earning us the prestigious UK’s #1 Great Place to Work accolade once again.”
Discover more about the UK's Best Workplaces, HR trends that will shape the future of work, and the ROI of a thriving culture in the 25th anniversary edition of the UK's Best Workplaces Magazine.
-2.png?width=700&height=300&name=Newsletter%20Banners%20(4)-2.png)
best workplaces
