Local Ethics With International Vision


Bluefin Solutions ranked amongst UK’s top 25 "Best Small Companies"

Kew Bridge based Bluefin Solutions has been ranked amongst the countries top 25 best small companies by the Sunday Times. This prestigious award, which recognises companies that have exemplified excellence both through employee workplace management and in daily support of employees throughout their work life, came shortly after Bluefin received the highest accolade in this year’s "Best Companies to Work For.”

So what makes Bluefin such a haven of contentment?

According to Chief Executive James Appleby it comes from the founders’ vision that there was a better way of doing business. “By looking after our employee needs, we continue to cultivate an environment in which success and fulfillment can flourish.” He explains “To achieve this goal, we relentlessly focus on our values; not only having them, but weaving them into the organisation and living them daily.

“The vision is simple: by being a great place to work, and by doing the best for our customers regardless of what that means to us, Bluefin strives to become one of the worlds most customer focused IT organisations by 2025.”

The company donates a percentage of their profits to charities nominated by their staff which means they are currently sponsoring seven employees running in this year’s London marathon and a further five cycling between their two offices in Kew Bridge and Liverpool.

Even their environmental policy cannot be faulted. Conscious that the biggest impact on the company’s carbon footprint is the way employees travel, Bluefin encourages staff to use the train wherever possible. “It’s as much to do with safety as it is quality of life, says James “On the whole trains are a better way of travelling than driving.”

Aside from the excellent transport links, company directors believe the area is a “brilliant place to attract bright talented people looking to further their careers.” And, judging by results from the Sunday Times survey, like minded and contented people also. In the survey Bluefin achieved its highest relative score for the strong values on which it is run (92%). Employees have great faith in Bluefin’s Chief Executive James Appleby (91%), and there is significant confidence in the leadership skills of senior management (88%). All in all, there is a growing sense of excitement about where the company is headed, with a positive score of 88%.

Commenting on the Sunday Times award, Cheif Operating Officer Philippa Holland said, “We are absolutely delighted to have made it to the top 25 of the Sunday Times list. This award is based on employee feedback so it’s a great achievement to be recognised in this way.

“Our values underpin everything we do so we were especially pleased this scored so highly in the feedback. We never underestimate the need to invest in our employees in order to deliver high value services for our clients whilst maintaining employee wellbeing.”

Emma Brophy

April 9, 2008