The 50 best companies to work for in the UK
Research among thousands of employees has revealed UK’s best companies to work for in 2020. Technology giant Google tops the list, repeating its 2018 and 2015 success, followed by Equal Experts, Salesforce, Hiscox and Softcat.
Every year, thousands of employees in the UK post positive or negative reviews of their employer on Glassdoor, a global recruitment and review site. These employee reviews span a host of workplace factors, including the attractiveness of the job, corporate culture, the quality of leadership, working conditions, compensation & benefits, work-life balance and career opportunities.
Having analysed all this data for the past year, researchers from Glassdoor have now populated a list of UK’s top companies to work for according to employees. These companies stand out from the crowd in people management, caring deeply about their talent by providing a workplace in which they can flourish, and nurturing a culture which makes them feel comfortable and respected.
The 50 best companies to work for in the United Kingdom:
1. Google
Sector: Internet
Founded: 1998
Head office: Mountain View, US
Main rivals: Microsoft, Apple, Facebook
Average employee score: 4.5
2. Equal Experts
Sector: Computer Hardware & Software
Founded: 2007
Head office: London, England
Average employee score: 4.5
3. Salesforce
Sector: Computer Hardware & Software
Founded: 1999
Head office: London, England
Average employee score: 4.5
4. Hiscox
Sector: Insurance Operators
Founded: 1901
Head office: Hamilton (Bermuda)
Average employee score: 4.4
5. Softcat
Sector: IT Services
Founded: 1993
Head office: Marlow, England
Average employee score: 4.4
6. Abcam
Sector: Biotech & Pharmaceuticals
Founded: 1998
Head office: Cambridge, England
Average employee score: 4.4
7. Microsoft
Sector: Computer Hardware & Software
Founded: 1975
Head office: Redmond, WA (US)
Main rivals: Google, Amazon, Apple
Average employee score: 4.4
8. SAP
Sector: Computer Hardware & Software
Founded: 1972
Head office: Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg (Germany)
Average employee score: 4.4
9. Topps Tiles
Sector: Home Furniture and Houseware Shops
Founded: 1963
Head office: Leicester, England
Main rivals: Ceramic Tile Distributors, Tile Giant, Porcelanosa
Average employee score: 4.4
10. Arup
Sector: Architectural & Engineering Services
Founded: 1946
Head office: London, England
Main rivals: T.Y. Lin International
Average employee score: 4.4
11. Las Iguanas
Sector: Casual Restaurants
Founded: 1991
Head office: Bristol, England
Main rivals: La Tasca, Casual Dining Group
Average employee score: 4.4
12. Mace
Sector: Building & Construction
Founded: 1990
Head office: London, England
Main rivals: Kier Group, AECOM, Skanska
Average employee score: 4.4
13. Cisco Systems
Sector: Computer Hardware & Software
Founded: 1984
Head office: San Jose, CA (US)
Main rivals: Alcatel-Lucent, Juniper Networks
Average employee score: 4.3
14. ICP Nurseries
Sector: Preschool & Child Care
Founded: 2016
Head office: Nottingham, England
Average employee score: 4.3
15. Arcadis
Sector: Building & Construction
Head office: Amsterdam (Netherlands)
Average employee score: 4.3
16. easyJet
Sector: Airlines
Founded: 1995
Head office: Luton, East of England, England
Average employee score: 4.3
17. Johnson & Johnson
Sector: Biotech & Pharmaceuticals
Founded: 1887
Head office: New Brunswick, NJ (US)
Main rivals: Abbott Laboratories, Novartis, Covidien
Average employee score: 4.3
18. Rentokil Initial
Sector: Building & Personnel Services
Founded: 1925
Head office: Camberley, England
Main rivals: Terminix, Ecolab, ISS
Average employee score: 4.3
19. United Utilities
Sector: Utilities
Founded: 2008
Head office: Warrington, North West England, England
Average employee score: 4.3
20. Shell
Sector: Oil & Gas Exploration & Production
Founded: 1907
Head office: The Hague (Netherlands)
Average employee score: 4.3
21. Royal London
Sector: Insurance Operators
Founded: 1861
Head office: London, England
Main rivals: Aviva, Scottish Widows, Standard Life Aberdeen
Average employee score: 4.3
22. J.P. Morgan
Sector: Investment Banking & Asset Management
Founded: 1799
Head office: New York, NY (US)
Average employee score: 4.3
23. Nando's
Sector: Casual Restaurants
Founded: 1992
Head office: London, England
Average employee score: 4.3
24. American Express
Sector: Financial Transaction Processing
Founded: 1850
Head office: New York, NY (US)
Average employee score: 4.3
25. Nike
Sector: Consumer Products Manufacturing
Founded: 1972
Head office: Beaverton, OR (US)
Main rivals: adidas, Under Armour, lululemon
Average employee score: 4.3
26. Bromford
Sector: Social Services
Founded: 1963
Head office: Wolverhampton, England
Average employee score: 4.3
27. O2
Sector: Cable, Internet & Telephone Providers
Founded: 2002
Head office: Slough, Berkshire, South East England, England
Average employee score: 4.3
28. Siemens
Sector: Electrical & Electronic Manufacturing
Founded: 1843
Head office: Frimley, England
Average employee score: 4.3
29. GlaxoSmithKline
Sector: Biotech & Pharmaceuticals
Founded: 1830
Head office: Brentford, England
Average employee score: 4.3
30. Rolls-Royce
Sector: Aerospace & Defence
Founded: 1906
Head office: London, England
Main rivals: GE, Pratt & Whitney
Average employee score: 4.3
31. Wagamama
Sector: Casual Restaurants
Founded: 1992
Head office: London, England
Average employee score: 4.3
32. Apple
Sector: Computer Hardware & Software
Founded: 1976
Head office: Cupertino, CA (US)
Average employee score: 4.3
33. Capgemini
Sector: Enterprise Software & Network Solutions
Founded: 1967
Head office: Paris (France)
Average employee score: 4.3
34. Unilever
Sector: Consumer Products Manufacturing
Founded: 1872
Head office: London, England
Main rivals: Procter & Gamble, Nestlé, Johnson & Johnson
Average employee score: 4.3
35. Accenture
Sector: Consulting
Founded: 1989
Head office: London, England
Average employee score: 4.3
36. AXA
Sector: Insurance Operators
Founded: 1996
Head office: London, England
Average employee score: 4.3
37. Facebook
Sector: Internet
Founded: 2004
Head office: Menlo Park, CA (US)
Average employee score: 4.3
38. Goldman Sachs
Sector: Investment Banking & Asset Management
Founded: 1869
Head office: New York, NY (US)
Main rivals: J.P. Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley
Average employee score: 4.3
39. Taylor Wimpey
Sector: Building & Construction
Founded: 2007
Head office: High Wycombe, England
Average employee score: 4.2
40. Ford Motor Company
Sector: Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
Founded: 1903
Head office: Dearborn, MI (US)
Main rivals: Tesla, General Motors (GM), Uber
Average employee score: 4.2
41. AstraZeneca
Sector: Biotech & Pharmaceuticals
Founded: 1913
Head office: Cambridge, England
Average employee score: 4.2
42. Cafe Rouge
Sector: Casual Restaurants
Founded: 1989
Head office: Euston, England
Main rivals: Côte Restaurant, Carluccio's, The Resource Group
Average employee score: 4.2
43. Turner and Townsend
Sector: Consulting
Founded: 1946
Head office: Leeds, England
Average employee score: 4.2
44. Reed
Sector: Staffing & Outsourcing
Founded: 1960
Head office: London, England
Average employee score: 4.2
45. Bella Italia
Sector: Casual Restaurants
Founded: 1990
Head office: Euston, England
Average employee score: 4.2
46. Barratt Developments
Sector: Building & Construction
Founded: 1958
Head office: London, England
Average employee score: 4.2
47. Iress
Sector: Computer Hardware & Software
Founded: 1993
Head office: Melbourne (Australia)
Average employee score: 4.2
48. BBC
Sector: TV Broadcasting & Cable Networks
Founded: 1922
Head office: London, England
Main rivals: ITV, Channel 4, Sky
Average employee score: 4.2
49. Schuh Limited
Sector: Department, Clothing, & Shoe Shops
Founded: 1981
Head office: Livingston, Scotland
Main rivals: Office Shoes, Dune, Aldo
Average employee score: 4.2
50. Bloomberg
Sector: Computer Hardware & Software
Founded: 1981
Head office: New York, NY (US)
Average employee score: 4.2
This year, Glassdoor conducted its Best Places to Work in 2020 study in nine countries: the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Singapore.
