The Sunday Times list of the 100 Best Small Companies to work for is compiled from the views of employees anonymously answering wide-ranging surveys about their company and the policies of their employers. The methodology used by Best Companies in their research identifies best practice according to performance in eight key indicators of workplace engagement. The results provide a vital insight into the inner-workings of many organisations across the country. The awards have come to be recognized as the benchmark for all that is outstanding in terms of working environment.

The elite national accreditation scrutinises workplace engagement and sets a benchmark for other companies.

It follows a 'Michelin star' system, with companies awarded one star for first class, two stars for outstanding and three stars for extraordinary performance.

"I would like to congratulate these companies on their outstanding achievement. Our role at Best Companies is to set a rigorous benchmark so that organisations can become even better employers. This year it is encouraging to see that the number of companies entering the accreditation scheme for excellence in workplace engagement has grown by one third." Says Jonathan Austin, Chief Executive, Best Companies.

"We are very proud of this achievement and are delighted to see that our efforts to create a great workplace have been recognized by our staff" says Ben Marsh, Managing Director, iMeta Technologies, "having this kind of feedback is invaluable and we will be striving to do even better next year."

The Best Companies survey is designed to measure employee engagement and uses 66 questions to gain a comprehensive view of workplace engagement across eight factors. These are:

Leadership measures how people feel about the head of their organization, the senior management team and the values of the organization.

Well Being measures stress, pressure, the balance between work and home life and the impact of these factors on personal health and performance.

My Manager measures whether people feel supported, trusted and cared for by their immediate manager.

My Team includes encouraging team spirit, feeling part of the company, having fun, and belonging.

My Company focuses on how much people value their company, how proud they are to work there, and whether they make a difference.

Personal Growth examines whether people feel challenged by their job, whether their skills are being utilized and their perceived opportunities for advancement.

Giving Something Back explores how much people think their organization puts back into society and whether they believe this effort is driven by profit motives

Fair Deal includes how well employees feel they are treated and how their pay and benefits compare to similar organisations.