As with the UK awards, the European rankings are determined by reviewing employee satisfaction levels. 2,330 companies participated in the ranking. Last year Softcat achieved 10th place in the same ranking in the medium category.

Chairman Martin Hellawell commented: “To be ranked as the 6th best workplace in the whole of Europe is just incredible and very humbling. I am a great admirer of many companies on that list and for Softcat to be ranked right up amongst the best of the best is breathtaking. I’m extremely proud of every employee for the work they do each day to make this company great; it’s only right that we foster a happy, rewarding work culture for them.”

Managing Director Colin Brown was also delighted. “Our employees’ welfare is a bedrock for our business performance; if our staff are happy, so is our bottom line. This award is further proof that our strategy works. Who wouldn’t want to work here?” He added, “To be ranked alongside the likes of 3 and Capital One is the icing on the cake.”

HR and recruitment executive Lillie Perkins explained what went into creating a ‘Great Place To Work’: “We give staff excellent training and do everything we can to ensure everyone feels engaged and fully aligned with the company’s values and goals. It’s crucial to recognise people for their achievements, so we reward high performers with uncapped commission, nights out and incredible incentive trips to exotic locations like Hawaii and Africa. To promote a sense of togetherness and responsibility we undertake extensive charity and CSR activities – everyone gets involved which results in a warm and caring culture.”

The organisation responsible for compiling the Best Workplaces list is Great Place to Work. It uses its own workplace assessment tools to help companies interpret and improve their workplace cultures, and it uses its research, based on data from more than 10 million employees in 46 countries, to share stories and insights about great workplaces around the world.

Great Place to Work launched the first Best Companies to Work For list in conjunction with Fortune magazine in the United States and Exame in Brazil more than 20 years ago. Great Place to Work now recognises workplaces in nearly 50 countries. For the 2014 Best Workplaces in Europe lists, Great Place to Work analysed data provided by more than 2.300 companies that represent more than 1.5 million employees.

“The Great Workplace Era is a time when all people can expect to work for an organisation where they trust their leaders, enjoy their colleagues and take pride in what they do. A time, in other words, when workplaces make the world better,” says China Gorman, global CEO of Great Place to Work. “This era is arriving in Europe and other parts of the globe. And it’s good news for everyone.”