Choosing where to work is an important decision that can impact your career satisfaction and success. With so many great companies to consider, it can be challenging to determine which are truly the best places to work in the UK according to LinkedIn. Using data and insights from LinkedIn’s platform, we can get a good sense of the top employers based on factors like employee satisfaction, advancement opportunities, and company reputation.
What Makes a Great Place to Work?
When evaluating the best places to work, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Company Culture – A positive, supportive work culture is crucial. Look for companies that prioritize collaboration, work-life balance, diversity, and employee wellbeing.
- Career Growth – Opportunities for learning, development, and advancement are important. The best companies invest in upskilling employees and providing pathways to promotion.
- Leadership – Effective leadership establishes a clear vision and strategy, communicates openly, and empowers employees.
- Compensation & Benefits – Competitive pay, health insurance, retirement plans, vacation time and other perks are attractive.
- Mission & Values – Having a meaningful mission and values you connect with makes a big difference in engagement and satisfaction.
Using LinkedIn’s data, we can see how top UK employers stack up across these areas to aid your job search.
LinkedIn’s Methodology
LinkedIn’s annual Top Companies list ranks the best places to work in the UK. The rankings are determined by exclusive data from LinkedIn, which looks at seven pillars:
- Ability to Advance – Career progression based on internal promotions and employee retention
- Skills Growth – Opportunities to gain skills based on learning programs and skill increase
- Company Stability – Company growth and financial health
- External Opportunity – Recruitment of experienced professionals
- Company Affinity – Employee engagement measured by interaction and interest in the company
- Gender Diversity – Gender parity across pipeline, compensation, and representation
- Spread of Educational Backgrounds – Diversity of educational backgrounds among employees
This methodology provides a 360-degree view of the employee experience at these companies to determine which excel across the board.
Top 10 Best Places to Work in the UK LinkedIn 2022
Based on LinkedIn’s 2022 analysis, here are the current top 10 companies to work for in the UK:
- Bain & Company
- Salesforce
- Ocado Technology
- McKinsey & Company
- EY
- Sky
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Deloitte
- Avanade
This list comprises major tech companies, top management and IT consultancies, financial institutions, and more. Let’s take a closer look at why each of these companies stands out.
1. Bain & Company
The top spot goes to management consultancy Bain & Company. Bain scores highly for ability to advance, company affinity, gender diversity, and spread of educational backgrounds. The company has a strong focus on mentorship and sponsorship initiatives to develop the next generation of leaders.
2. Google
Tech giant Google offers world-class benefits, learning opportunities, compensation, and career growth. The company is renowned for its innovative culture that empowers employees to collaborate and think creatively.
3. Salesforce
Salesforce has invested heavily in workplace culture, earning recognition as one of the UK’s top employers for wellbeing. Initiatives like employee resource groups, mindfulness programs, and equal family leave demonstrate the company’s commitment.
4. Ocado Technology
This UK online grocery and technology company scores highly for skills growth, company affinity, gender diversity, and educational backgrounds. Ocado Technology’s apprenticeship programs are among the best for launching tech careers.
5. McKinsey & Company
Like Bain, consulting firm McKinsey offers exceptional opportunities for advancement and development. McKinsey consultants gain exposure to top executives across industries.
6. EY
Professional services leader EY receives high marks across all ranking categories. EY has made significant investments to enhance inclusion, flexibility, and lifelong learning.
7. Sky
Media and telecoms company Sky has built a reputation as a top employer with benefits like private healthcare, discounts, sabbaticals, and bonuses. A focus on innovation, creativity, and technology skills helps Sky stand out.
8. JPMorgan Chase & Co.
This leading financial institution empowers employees by investing in training, wellbeing and advancement. Initiatives like school leaver programs, Returnship, and disability inclusion underpin JPMorgan Chase’s approach.
9. Deloitte
Professional services network Deloitte offers extensive learning programs, the ability to transfer across offices worldwide, and strong gender diversity. Deloitte’s culture embraces collaboration and work-life balance.
10. Avanade
IT consultancy Avanade scores highly for gender diversity and educational backgrounds. Its culture focuses on bold thinking, learning on the job, and strong hybrid work policies.
Key Takeaways
In reviewing the top companies in the UK according to LinkedIn, a few key takeaways emerge:
- Top consultancies like Bain, McKinsey, Deloitte and EY dominate the list, offering strong advancement, training, and diversity.
- Major technology companies like Google, Salesforce, Ocado Technology and Avanade also perform very well, thanks to innovative cultures, work flexibility and skills growth opportunities.
- Financial services firms like JPMorgan Chase and media/telecoms companies like Sky create engaging cultures and learning programs.
- The best companies emphasize diversity, inclusion, work-life balance, and employee wellbeing and advancement.
So in summary, consulting firms, tech companies, financial institutions and media/telecoms firms tend to excel as top employers in the UK on LinkedIn’s rankings. Key factors that make these companies desirable are training and advancement opportunities, work-life balance, diversity and inclusion efforts, and innovative cultures.
What Else Makes a Company a Great Place to Work in the UK?
Beyond the factors LinkedIn analyzes, there are some other important elements that contribute to making a company a satisfying place to work in the UK:
- Competitive pay and benefits – Salary, health insurance, retirement plans, bonuses and other perks should meet or exceed industry standards.
- Flexible work arrangements – Options like remote work, compressed schedules and generous leave policies promote work-life balance.
- Employee recognition programs – Initiatives to recognize achievements and milestones boost morale and engagement.
- Professional development stipends – Funds to attend conferences, classes and training events enable skills growth.
- Fun work events and culture – Things like sports teams, social hours, holiday parties and sponsored group activities bring people together.
While competitive pay and benefits are essential, it’s often initiatives that enhance work culture, flexibility and career development that truly set the best companies apart.
How Can You Identify the Best Places to Work in the UK?
When researching the top employers in the UK, here are some tips:
- Check LinkedIn’s annual Top Companies list and methodology.
- Browse rankings like Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work.
- Look for companies on lists like Best Workplaces for Women, Millennials, Diversity, Parents, Remote Workers etc.
- Search company review sites like Glassdoor to see employee ratings and reviews.
- Check if companies have won HR awards or top employer certifications.
- Ask friends, classmates and colleagues about their experiences at companies you’re interested in.
- Evaluate employee satisfaction and engagement data if publicly available.
Taking the time to thoroughly research companies using these tips can help you find organizations where you are likely to thrive and succeed in your career.
Top Companies in the UK by Industry 2022
While the top 10 companies provide a good overview of best employers across industries, looking at the top organizations within specific industries can also be useful in your job search.
Here is a breakdown of the top companies in the major industries in the UK according to LinkedIn:
Technology
- Salesforce
- SAP
- Oracle
- Microsoft
Finance & Insurance
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Morgan Stanley
- Barclays
- Bank of America
- Citigroup
Consulting
- Bain & Company
- McKinsey & Company
- Boston Consulting Group
- Accenture
- Deloitte
Media & Telecommunications
- Sky
- BBC
- BT
- Vodafone
- Virgin Media
This breakdown shows leading employers by industry based on LinkedIn’s data. Focusing your job search on the top companies in your field is an effective way to find opportunities at desirable workplaces doing meaningful work you enjoy.
Key Factors to Weigh In Your Job Search
As you evaluate potential employers during your job search, here are some key factors to consider:
Work Culture and Environment
- What are the values and work style? Collaborative vs. competitive?
- Does the culture align with your personality and work style?
- What employee satisfaction scores does the company have?
- What do employees say about the culture on review sites?
Learning and Advancement
- What training, mentoring and onboarding do they offer?
- How strong are advancement opportunities within the company?
- Do they offer tuition or learning stipends?
- What % of open roles are filled internally vs. externally?
Work Environment
- Is the location convenient with reasonable commute time?
- What are policies on remote work and schedule flexibility?
- Do facilities and workspace layout promote collaboration?
- What employee resource groups and diversity programs exist?
Compensation & Benefits
- How does pay compare to industry averages and cost of living?
- What insurance plans, retirement savings programs, and other benefits are offered?
- Does the company offer bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing?
- How much vacation time, sick time, and leave do they provide?
Evaluating these elements will help you determine which companies are truly best aligned with your career goals, interests, needs and values.
Tips for Getting Hired at a Top UK Company
Landing a job at one of the best places to work in the UK can transform your career. Here are some tips to help get hired:
- Highlight relevant skills and experience – Tailor your resume and LinkedIn profile to show you have the skills the company seeks.
- Express interest in the company culture – In interviews, discuss why the company’s culture and values resonate with you.
- Ask thoughtful questions – Questions that show your understanding of their business and the role demonstrate engagement.
- Prepare for interviews – Research the role, company, industry news and trends to hold thoughtful conversations.
- Get referrals from current employees – Referrals can help you get an edge in competitive application processes.
- Check out their talent programs – Many top companies have development programs, apprenticeships and recruiting initiatives for specific candidate pools.
- Highlight diversity qualifications – If you meet diversity criteria valuable to the company like gender, ethnicity, education background etc., indicate this in your application.
With a great resume, interview preparation, employee referrals and showcasing alignment with the company’s needs, you can get on track for landing a role at a top employer.
Conclusion
Using exclusive data and insights, LinkedIn provides a valuable guide to the best places work in the UK across industries. Top companies are propelled by strong training and advancement programs, work-life balance, diversity and inclusion and innovative cultures. Leading consulting firms, technology companies, financial institutions and media/telecoms firms tend to rise to the top of LinkedIn’s rankings. Job seekers should weigh factors like work environment, compensation, culture and growth opportunities as they evaluate employers during their search. With thorough research and strong applications, landing a job at one of the best companies can accelerate your career success and satisfaction.