CorpComms Magazine

Eight public relations consultancies are among The Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies To Work For, while four other consultancies working in the communications sphere also make the list.

London-based Shine Communications, which launched in 1998 to 'literally help its people and clients to shine', took third position on the list, moving up from sixth place in 2010.

Each year the agency, which counts Paramount, Cadbury and Vodafone among its clients, spends £1,470 per head on fun, including monthly nights out, while charitable activities raised more than £47,000 last year. 

Shine sets aside a budget of £2,750 per employee for external training. Nine out of ten staff feel a strong sense of family, while 92 per cent enjoy working for the agency. 

Bite Communications achieved 45th place, dropping back from seventh position in 2010, but also received a special accolade for its new training and development programme, which was ranked the best among the contenders.

The worldwide training plan, which was launched this year, includes country-specific development and a Bite academy created and run by the global digital team. But Bite's 54 employees also receive an average 85 hours of training each year, and £150 for unrelated personal development.

After four years' service, employees at Brands2Life (48th position) receive either a Tiffany necklace or Ferragamo tie. These veterans also receive a two-month sabbatical at half pay. Nearly half of Brands2Life's 72 staff joined as graduate trainees, and 79 per cent are happy with their pay and benefits.

The Red Consultancy, which renamed itself 'Red and White' for the duration of the World Cup in an effort to be 'the UK's most football friendly workplace over the month', comes in at 54, while 79 per cent of employees (a top 15 score) are content with their pay and benefits.

At 56th position Golin Harris, which sets aside £34,000 per year for social activities, offers each cluster of desks £50 per month for little treats, helping to foster a sense of family (85 per cent) while 75 per cent of employees believe in teamwork.

Nine out of ten employees at Blue Rubicon (65th position) believe the London-based PR firm promotes personal growth, while 74 per cent of employees at Lexis Public Relations (71st position) are happy with their pay and benefits package and 85 per cent of staff at Consolidated PR (77th position) have confidence in their bosses. 

Elsewhere, leadership consultancy Lane4, which was founded by Adrian Moorhouse, came in at 30th place. Marketing and communications agency Black Sun achieved 47th place, conference and events manager DRP Group came in at 57th place, while brand design consultancy Elmwood took 87th place. 

Almost 570 small companies, employing between 50 and 249 staff, took part in this year's 'The 100 Best Small Companies To Work For' survey.

share me: del.icio.us | digg | reddit | Tweet