Best Companies to Work for in the UK in 2018

If graduation is around the corner, or you’re beginning to take an early look at which graduate schemes you should be applying to, we’ve found something which should help. Released annually, GlassDoor’s Employees’ Choice Awards features a ranking of the 50 best places to work in the UK in 2018, based on anonymous, voluntary employee feedback gathered over the past year.

This year, Google takes the top spot for the first time since 2015, beating competition from the likes of fellow tech giants Facebook and Apple. So, how can you get a job at the best place to work in the UK? Fortunately for you, several of the companies included in the top 50 also offer their own graduate schemes or internships, so there’s a clear route for you to find work with these top employers.

1. Google

Claiming first place in the ranking of the best places to work in the UK (having ranked only 13^th the year before), Google has a rating of 4.5 out of a possible five. Employees are quoted as describing it as “one of the best companies in the world” and somewhere where they “feel like (they’re) at a company that is actively shaping what the world will be like in the future”.

In addition to this positive working environment, GlassDoor also highlight some of the perks of working at Google, including “free food, health insurance, dental insurance, travel expenses and shares [and] flexible working arrangements”.

If all of this sounds good, you’ll be pleased to learn that there are internships available at Google’s London office, including business internships in GMS Sales and Operations, Large Customer Sales, Google Cloud and Marketing, MBA internships and software engineering internships. You’re eligible if you’re currently studying a degree in computer science, business or a related field and able to complete the internship and then complete your studies. Previous relevant experience will also help your application.

2. Anglian Water

Narrowly missing out on top spot in this list of the best companies to work for the UK is Anglian Water, a company which supplies water to the eastern counties of the UK. Based in Cambridgeshire, Anglian Water is the winner of the Responsible Business of the Year award for 2017 and has a GlassDoor score of 4.4. Employees called it “an enjoyable, inspiring and rewarding company to work for” and praised its graduate scheme, saying there’s “a really good balance between having plenty to do whilst having good support in place if required. All Anglian Water staff have been extremely friendly without exception and have made me feel really valued.”

The company’s Graduate Management Programme offers a starting salary of £25,500 (US$34,500), spans two years, and is focused on transforming graduates into future managers, giving them a comprehensive overview of the company and its core business areas. You’re eligible if you have a degree in geography, engineering or other related scientific or engineering subjects, or a business-related discipline.  

3. Bromford

Based in Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, Bromford is a social enterprise which provides affordable housing and specialist housing support services. It received a score of 4.4 in the best places to work ranking, with employees praising it as a “fantastic company to work for”. In particular, employees praised its “great office space, amazing, helpful colleagues, really great benefits package [and] good pensions”.

Bromford doesn’t currently offer any graduate schemes, so if you want to work here, you’ll need to gain the required experience for your ideal role elsewhere first. If you apply for a role and are shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an assessment day.

4. Facebook

Another big name to make GlassDoor’s list of the 10 best companies to work for is social media giant Facebook, which gained a score of 4.4. Working here is described as being “fast-paced and constantly changing with an ambition to always do better”. Another employee said Facebook was an “amazing employer with lots of challenges and opportunities to learn and grow”.

Facebook has London-based roles available for 2018 graduates, including positions in production design, UX research, product marketing management (for an MBA graduate) and software engineering. It also offers PhD internships in UX research, which are currently open to HCI, social computing, information science or related social science students who will graduate with a PhD in 2019.

5. Salesforce

Ranked fifth in the GlassDoor list of the best places to work in the UK, innovative cloud computing company Salesforce has been praised for its excellent company culture. Employees pointed out the company’s “values around trust, transparency, innovation and equality are really driven and I haven't met anyone who isn't committed to these values”. The environment is particularly positive for people starting directly after university, with one employee writing: “As a graduate, I feel like I am learning a lot. I have definitely grown in my short time with the company.”

Salesforce runs a 12-month Success Graduate Program in the UK, aimed at graduates from all disciplines, which offers continuous growth and development working as part of the pre-sales or post-sales team.  Previous work experience in a commercial or consulting environment would be ideal for this program, and you can read more tips on how to get hired as a Salesforce Success Graduate here.

6. Lookers

Lookers, one of the UK’s leading car dealership chains, is based in Stretford, Manchester but has a variety of roles available across the UK in Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Worcester, Edinburgh, Leeds and Surrey. 90 percent of Lookers employees who posted reviews would recommend the company to a friend, with many benefits available, including a good amount of annual leave (which increases with the longer you stay in the company), share schemes, staff discounts, flexible working, illness cover and more.

7. Rentokil Initial

Ranked as the seventh best place to work in the UK, Rentokil Initial is a leading provider of commercial pest control services, hygiene services, plants and scenting. With a head office in Surrey, Rentokil Initial offers graduate programs lasting up two three years which offer graduates the chance to prove themselves and take on an interesting and rewarding role as an operations or sales graduate, in which every day is different.

Rentokil Initial has a score of 4.3 on GlassDoor. One employee, who is taking part in a graduate management program in Glasgow, complimented his co-workers, describing them as an “amazing team, like a big family” and they also reflected positively on their varied workload and great training.

8. Hiscox

Hiscox is an international insurance company based in Bermuda (with offices in several UK cities) which specializes in niche areas of the market. It has a score of 4.3 on GlassDoor, and one employee said: “You are constantly surrounded by people who are willing to work hard and get the job done to the best of their ability but who also know how to have a good laugh and bring your spirits up when you need to.” Another employee said they were “given responsibility from the first day,” while other positives included, “excellent training, [an] exceptionally friendly and approachable working environment [and] good benefits”.

Hiscox’s 2018 Graduate Program aims to give graduates hands-on experience with on-the-job training from reputable professionals. These programs are two years long and consist of three secondments, two in your home location and one in an office abroad. If you’re from the UK, you will need at least 300 UCAS points and a 2:2 degree. You’ll also need to be numerate, share the company values and have excellent interpersonal skills.

9. Apple

Ranked ninth in this year’s list of the best places to work in the UK, Apple has a score of 4.0 and has a large number of positive reviews, including: “The atmosphere is amazing and working around like-minded people makes you want to better yourself and give a better experience to the customers”.

Apple offers London-based internships such as a product marketing internship aimed at current students or recent graduates, which starts in June/July 2018 and lasts a year. This represents a great opportunity to gain experience in the product marketing team and gain insight across a range of well-known Apple products.

10. HomeServe UK

Last but not least in this top 10 of best companies to work for is HomeServe, a home emergency repairs business with its head office in the West Midlands. Achieving an overall GlassDoor score of 4.3, one HomeServe employee called the company “one of a kind”. They continued: “[It has a] very special culture. A lot of businesses claim to have created a ‘family like’ feel. HomeServe truly has. I have a real sense of belonging, people at all levels genuinely care about the customers and each other”.

At the time of writing there are roles available in marketing, production management and customer service.

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