The Best Small Companies To Work For In Yorkshire 2025?

Ever wondered what makes a company a brilliant place to work? It's not always about flashy offices or a massive salary. More often than not, it comes down to feeling valued, supported, and part of a team that cares. That's exactly what the annual Best Companies list looks at.

It's not decided by bosses in a boardroom, but by the actual employees who live and breathe the company culture every day. Based on their honest feedback, an organisation can be named one of the best. For 2025, a list of 75 small businesses from across the UK has been published, and nine of them are right here in Yorkshire. Let's have a look at what these top small companies are doing to make their employees love their work.

Yorkshire Sport Foundation: where the team comes first

First up is the Yorkshire Sport Foundation. This organisation works across nine districts in South and West Yorkshire with a mission of "forming connections, influencing policy, and providing support to increase participation in sport and physical activity."

It's a great goal, but what makes it one of the best places to work? A massive 94 per cent of its employees said they feel appreciated and supported by their colleagues. That is a huge number and shows a really strong team spirit. The organisation fosters this through several special teams, including a dedicated wellbeing group to look after the health of its employees. This kind of focus on employee wellbeing and teamwork is what sets a good business apart from a great one.

The Oakland Group: putting wellbeing front and centre

Leeds-based The Oakland Group is a data and AI consultancy which might sound very techy, but its focus is firmly on people. This company has made wellbeing, especially mental health, a top priority. They run a whole range of initiatives from chatty cafés designed to get people talking, to providing menopause support and suicide prevention training. It is a serious commitment.

To make sure every employee has a voice, The Oakland Group has set up four different communities. These groups give everyone a platform to share feedback and contribute to the company's success. This approach to employee engagement ensures that the whole team feels involved in the business journey, building a real sense of shared purpose.

Axiologik: making every employee's work matter

Established in 2016, Axiologik is a digital leadership consultancy that helps with really big, complicated tech projects. What makes this company stand out is how it connects everyone's day-to-day job to the bigger picture. In monthly meetings, the company's vision is shared and discussed so nobody is left in the dark. But it goes deeper.

Each person has personal goals that link directly to the organisation's main objectives for the year. This means every employee can see exactly how their hard work contributes to the overall success of the business. It is a powerful way to make work feel meaningful and impactful, which is a key part of job satisfaction.

Bumper International: rewards that go the extra mile

Starting as a small UK business in 2013, Bumper International has grown into a multi-national organisation with over 100 employees. This company shows its appreciation for its colleagues in some pretty amazing ways. One of its standout initiatives is the annual company retreat. This is not just a day out; it is a three-day event in places like Lisbon or France.

The idea is for colleagues to reconnect and build relationships away from their desks. On top of that, the company offers other great rewards such as share options and generous annual leave. These perks show that the organisation truly values the people who work there and wants to reward them for their commitment.

The Anglican Diocese of Leeds: building modern communities

Formed in 2014, The Anglican Diocese of Leeds serves communities across a large part of Yorkshire and beyond. As an organisation with deep roots, it has also embraced modern ways to keep its team connected. In 2021, it launched a brand-new intranet to help inform and engage employees. A wellbeing working group was also set up to make sure teams felt close even when working apart. They have hosted a range of virtual events from regular coffee mornings and team prayers to Christmas gatherings and even a monthly book club. These initiatives show a real understanding of how to build strong communities in the modern world of work.

CD (UK) Ltd: living by their values

Founded way back in 1980, CDUK has become a major supplier of surface materials. What makes this company one of the best to work for is its clear set of company values. These are not just words on a poster; they are the principles that guide everything. The team's values are:

• Winning together
• Doing the right thing
• Owning the outcome
• Ever-improving
• Daring to dream

To make sure these values are more than just a list, the company recognises employees who live them out with a quarterly Hero of the Quarter award. This kind of recognition makes everyone feel that their positive behaviour and attitude are genuinely seen and appreciated by the business.

BetterYou: a brand with a conscience

BetterYou is a natural healthcare brand with a strong ethical compass. As a certified B Corp, it is legally required to consider the impact of its decisions on its workers, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment. This commitment is clear in its Better Planet Project which was established in 2019. The project looks at improving every aspect of the brand’s environmental footprint. This focus on doing good extends to its own team with a deep commitment to staff engagement and wellbeing. Working for a company that genuinely cares about its impact on the world can provide a powerful sense of purpose for any employee.

UK Coaching: investing in people and principles

As the representative body for coaches, UK Coaching is all about helping people develop. And it practises what it preaches. Employee engagement and wellbeing are core to this organisation. Initiatives like Team Time Out days give everyone a chance to recharge, while the WeConnect Monthly Update keeps the whole team in the loop. The organisation also provides plenty of training opportunities including apprenticeships, helping its people grow their skills. Crucially, the senior management team makes sure that the work everyone does reflects the organisation's values. This commitment is woven into daily work, creating a culture where everyone feels they are pulling in the same direction.

Alconex: making work fun and productive

Rounding out the list is Alconex Infrastructure and Solutions Ltd, a company that installs essential utility connections across the UK. Alconex has fostered a collaborative environment where teamwork is everything. But it has also found a unique way to boost performance: making work a game.

Through an initiative called the Alconex Premier League, it has turned everyday tasks into a fun competition. And it works. This gamified approach has led to a 35 per cent improvement in site productivity. It shows that a creative and fun work environment can lead to amazing results, proving that a happy team is a productive team.