Lloyd’s insurers Marketform and Hiscox and reinsurance intermediary Benfield have made The Times newspaper’s list of top 100 companies to work for.
It’s the first time Marketform entered the awards and they are the only insurance underwriting group to make the top 100 on the small companies list. They come in at 26, while Hiscox reached position 42 and Benfield 63 on The Times main list.
The annual list is seen as the definitive guide to the UK’s best companies, and the awards are based on staff views on their working environment and the way the company treats them.
Marketform Chairman, Holly Bellingham, said the firm was delighted with the honour.
“The list contains companies for all areas of business and we are pleased that an industry which has always faced stiff competition to recruit high quality staff from other areas of the financial services market has been recognised in this way,” she said.
“It is nice that we are seen to be a fun place to work and one which places a huge importance in the training and development of the individuals we employ.”
Marketform won high praise from staff for its values and “the strong sense of family in their team” said the judges.
Bronek Masojada, CEO, Hiscox said: "At Hiscox one of our goals is to recruit and retain quality people and reward them fairly so I am delighted Hiscox has been recognised for the fourth consecutive year as one of the Sunday Times Best 100 Companies To Work For. This is a great endorsement for our company and represents a culture we've worked hard to maintain."
Factors that led to Benfield’s recognition include staff being encouraged to participate in community activities during work time, and employee donations being matched 100% by the company. The company also holds annual team-building events for senior executives and employees.
Grahame Chilton, Benfield’s chief executive, and members of the board operate an open-door policy and “Chily’s chat room” offers employees the opportunity to ask Chilton questions via a live online link.
More than 86,500 employees across more than 500 companies contributed to the Times’ findings, and the list is compiled via a confidential survey filled out by staff.
