Companies including Home Group, Atom, TSG and Northumbrian Water have made the coveted list
Atom Bank is now based in the Pattern Shop building in Newcastle.(Image: Atom bank)
Staff at 10 North East companies are celebrating after their workplaces were singled out for being among the best in the business. A total of 350 companies have made this year’s list of the UK’s Best Workplaces 2026.
This year’s list includes 50 super large places to work, 100 large places to work, 100 medium places to Work, and 200 small places to work. Great Place To Work, the global authority on workplace culture which has compiled the list, says the rankings are based on employee survey responses combined with culture audits submitted by participating organisations. Businesses reaching the highest scores are included in the final list.
Big name businesses to feature on the list include chocolatiers Lindt & Sprüngli, hospitality giant Hilton, insurance groups Aviva and Admiral, IT firm Adobe, beauty business Savers and sight specialist Specsavers. The North East had much to celebrate too, with a number of the firms singled out having relocated to new city centre offices in recent years.
Regional companies celebrating include housing association Home Group, based at One Strawberry Place in Newcastle city centre, ranked number 17 in the ‘super large’ category, with 80% of employees saying it is a great place to work, compared to 54% of employees at a typical UK based company.
Vicki Carruthers, director of people at Home Group, said: “This is the tenth year in a row we have been ranked so highly in the Great Place to Work Survey, and we are so pleased with that. One of the things that is so important to us is that we engage with colleagues on all aspects of our business, we value their insight, expertise, and feedback.
“We really do live our values at Home Group, one of which is caring. We care about our colleagues, what matters most to them, and what they think and feel would make Home Group a better place to work. We will continue to do that and hopefully make this organisation a great place to work for many years to come.”
Northumbrian Water also makes the list, coming in at number 28 on the super large list. Based in Durham, the firm has 3,879 UK-based employees, some of whom have spent more than 20 years spent in the business.
The outside of One Strawberry Lane in Newcastle, Home Group’s head office.(Image: Home Group)
Elouise Leonard-Cross, Northumbrian Water’s group people director said: “We’re proud to be named one of the UK’s Best Workplaces for the sixth consecutive year. What matters most is that this recognition reflects the genuine experiences of our people, with 90% choosing to share their views.
“This achievement reflects the inclusive culture we are building through our Together for Inclusion, Diversity & Equity strategy, where everyone feels valued and able to thrive. Moving up eight places this year is a real credit to our colleagues and the passion, care and commitment they show every day.”
Sunderland housing association Gentoo also makes the super large list, ranking at number 32. It said the recognition reflects Gentoo’s continued focus on building a positive, inclusive culture where colleagues feel valued, supported and able to do their best work.
Susan Fulton, executive director of customer, people and engagement, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for Gentoo, and I’m incredibly proud of every colleague across the organisation. We’re committed to creating a culture where people feel supported, valued and genuinely enjoy coming to work.
“We know that when our colleagues thrive, they’re able to deliver the very best service for our customers. I’d like to thank everyone for their continued hard work and commitment, and we’re excited to keep building an even better place to work together. To help us become the best social housing provider in the country.”
In the large list, the UK’s first digital only bank Atom – which recently moved from Durham to Newcastle city centre – is featured at number 31. Atom, based in the Pattern Shop, now employs 570 people, 88% of whom say it is a great place to work.
Chief operations officer, Helen Wilson said: “Almost 12 years ago, we set out to build a bank that does things differently – not just for our customers, but for the people who work here, too. Seeing Atom named as a Top 100 Best Workplace on our very first entry is an incredibly proud moment. It’s proof that what we’ve built together is exactly what we hoped it would be back then.”
“We are committed to making Atom a workplace where everyone can thrive, and this validates the substantial steps we have taken over the last year. From investments in colleagues to opening our amazing new HQ in the heart of Newcastle, we are continually evolving to ensure Atom remains a truly great place to start and build a career right here in the North East.”
Gateshead based tech firm TSG, which features at number 50 in the large workplaces list, spoke of its pride in making the final list. Rory McKeand, CEO at the firm which has 250 staff on Tyneside and around the UK, said: “Being recognised means a huge amount to us. TSG is built on brilliant people, and this is their achievement as much as anyone’s. We work hard to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and able to do the best work of their careers – so to see that reflected back is genuinely wonderful.”
Rory McKeand, CEO of TSG.(Image: TSG)
Tyneside software development company Leighton, which has relocated its regional headquarters from The Core to the 14-storey Bank House, part of the Pilgrim Street redevelopment in Newcastle, features at number 9 in the medium list.
Holli Taylor, head of marketing at the 102-employee business said: “This recognition is a reflection of the culture we continue to build together at Leighton, grounded in collaboration, curiosity and a genuine commitment to our people. “Leighton was born in the North East and our roots have played a defining role in shaping the business. That sense of community and authenticity that we’ve taken from the region continues to influence our culture today, and as we grow, we’re committed to holding onto what makes Leighton unique.
“We work closely with our colleagues to shape an environment where everyone feels supported, empowered and able to do their best work. From prioritising wellbeing and flexibility to creating opportunities for growth and development, our focus is on fostering a culture that not only enables individuals to thrive but also drives high performance for our customers.
“Listings like this are important because they are based on real colleague feedback and provide an honest reflection of the experience we’re creating every day. They hold us accountable for our culture and reinforce our commitment to making Leighton a truly great place to work.”
Fellow tech firm Arctic Wolf, based in Newcastle’s Grey Street, is also celebrating inclusion, just over three years after opening its office in the region. Clare Loveridge, vice president and general manager EMEA at Arctic Wolf, said: “We’re thrilled to be recognised as a UK Great Place to Work for a second year running. Arctic Wolf has a unique and special culture which we strive to continually foster, and I believe this is what ultimately makes the company such a rewarding place to be.
We opened our UK offices in 2022, and ever since then, we have continued to champion industry best practices to create a positive working environment grounded in respecting, listening to, and empowering the people who that work here. As we look to grow and expand, we are also building a workplace that welcomes a diversity of backgrounds, cultures and ideas to help inform a holistic approach to cybersecurity.”
The North East list of entries is rounded off by NETPark based tech firm Ascarii, data specialists Simpson Associates and tech firm Eco Simplified.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login