iLike: Apple triumphs in league table of Britain's most popular employers

• Apple crowned the best company to work for in the UK
• Ranking of employers is based on millions of employee reviews posted on the world’s largest job site, Indeed
• Workers gave the highest scores to companies offering career progression, flexible working and perks rather than just a good salary

Apple is the best company to work for in Britain, according to data released by the world’s biggest job site Indeed.

The global tech giant came top of a ranking of the UK’s best employers that was compiled from millions of employee reviews. The top 25 companies include both high street and business-to-business brands, as well as British and foreign-based firms.

Homegrown firms dominate the league table – accounting for two-thirds of the most popular employers – but Apple’s combination of an enjoyable work culture, good rates of pay and free or discounted tech helped it claim the top spot.

The second-ranked employer is the Humberside-based Wren Kitchens, which employs over 4,000 staff, scored consistently highly for valuing and treating its employees well.

The third most popular company to work for is the global pharmaceuticals business GlaxoSmithKline, whose employees praised it for offering a good work / life balance and attractive career prospects. Eighth on the list is John Lewis, Britain’s best-known department store, which famously invites employees to become partners and shares profits with them.

A new sporting entry was 17th-placed Liverpool Football Club. Its employees praised it for being a ‘productive and fun’ workplace, though the average salaries listed – which include £12.17 per hour for a hospitality manager and £8.82 per hour for a chef – are a little less than those paid to the Premier League club’s top players.

Table: Best places to work in the private sector in the UK

Based on reviews submitted by visitors to Indeed

Bill Richards, UK Managing Director atglobal job site, Indeed, comments: “The difference between a good job and a great job can vary from person to person, but our ranking shows some common themes shine through.

“Companies that make their employees feel valued and offer a positive working environment score consistently highly among the reviews posted on Indeed. As we continue to see for many staff, work-life balance, career prospects and a great workplace culture can all mean more than a good salary alone.”

Mark Pullan, Managing Director at Wren Kitchens, said:“Wren is a family business, passionate about giving our customers their dream kitchen. We truly believe in developing our staff to their full potential.  We have a fast paced, hard working culture, and those who put the effort in are rewarded with great earning potential and a fun, fulfilling career.”

Colleen Schuller, Head of Employee Engagement at GSK, said:“We’re a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose to help people do more, feel better and live longer – and we believe that starts with our people. So it’s great to see that past and present employee feedback reinforces that GSK is a great place to work.”  

A HomeServe spokesperson commented: "Our culture is built on the understanding that if we take care of our people, they will take care of our customers and the rest takes care of itself.”