Bristol-based challenger recruitment firm ISL has been named as one of the top small businesses to work for in the UK.
ISL was created by entrepreneurs Henry Keeys and Alan Furley to move away from poor industry working culture within the sector.
Now 10 years on the firm has become the only small business in the South West to be named among the UK’s Best Workplaces in a survey carried out by Great Place to Work, which helps organisations improve attraction, retention and performance by creating exceptional working environments.
The resulting award – won by just 27 firms this year – is viewed as the gold standard for companies wishing to give their staff outstanding work cultures.
Businesses taking part submit to a rigorous audit process, including an anonymous survey asking all employees how they feel on a range of work issues.
All ISL staff supplied answers to the Great Place to Work survey, with 90%-plus positive responses across categories such as diversity, job security, working environment, strategy, communication, values & ethics and empowerment & accountability.
ISL has a near 50/50 gender balance and a culture of normal working hours. Staff targets set in the first three-to-six months put equal emphasis on behaviours as well as sales figures.
The founders see the prestigious award as a ‘thumbs-up’ for the approach they adopted from day one in the business.
Henry started ISL aged 30 after becoming frustrated with harsh working cultures. He was soon joined by Alan Furley, a like-minded 29-year-old.
Together they have created a £3.1m turnover firm with a professional development model based on positive behaviours.
Henry said: “When we started out we knew if we were to stay in recruitment things had to change.
“Micromanagement and, in extreme cases, bullying meant working in recruitment is often a pretty miserable experience. I just didn’t think it was necessary to act that way. If you don’t treat people like adults you can’t expect to get engaged staff in the longer term.
“Achieving this award now, in our 10th year, means a huge amount. The fact it’s based on anonymous staff surveys means we know we have a genuine thumbs-up to the working environment at ISL – and that’s truly special.”
Last year ISL was a finalist in the CIPD People Management Awards for a purpose-built personal development programme called Project Evolution.
Alan said: “Our values are professionalism, respect, cooperation and autonomy. We want people to be competitive, but also valuing each other’s successes.
“When we looked through the scorecard we felt pretty humbled everyone had been so positive but also enthusiastic that the work we’ve been putting in has paid off.
“It’s a risk asking people what they think of what you’ve done, so I do confess to feeling relief, too.”
ISL now intends to more than double in size over the next three years and take their business model overseas, with expansion plans being considered into Europe and beyond.
Alan added: “The challenge for us is to grow while maintaining the ethos and culture. We’ve built a great team of future leaders within the business who are supportive of our aims, so this year is a great springboard for us to achieve this.
“Right now, however, we’re going to enjoy the moment and thank our staff for being with us, and for everything they do.”
Great Place to Work CEO Tom O’Byrne added: “Recruitment is a difficult business and it is encouraging that ISL recognise creating and maintaining a great experience for their employees is a key requirement to managing business performance.
“In a sector characterised by high attrition rates, firms like ISL are better placed to attract and retain the best talent. We look forward to watching their future progress.”
Pictured: The ISL Recruitment team
