Reflecting on our Great Place to Work® Accreditation
By Liza Gamblin, Group People Director, Compass Recruitment Solutions
It gives me immense pride to reflect on the achievement of our first-ever Great Place to Work® Certification across Compass Recruitment Solutions.
Whilst accreditations are always welcome, this recognition feels particularly special because it comes directly from the people who matter most – our team. Their feedback has provided an honest reflection of what it is like to work across our group of businesses, including Compass Associates, Carrot Recruitment, Consult, MedExec, Compass Carter Osborne and our central CRS functions.
What makes this achievement so meaningful is that it validates something we’ve always believed: great businesses are built by great people, and great people thrive in cultures where they feel trusted, valued, supported and empowered to succeed.
The feedback itself brought that culture to life. One colleague described Compass as having the “perfect balance of trust and autonomy whilst still feeling supported and encouraged,” whilst another commented on the “family feel despite being a larger organisation,” adding that “everyone is so supportive and encouraging, wants each other to do well and we celebrate other people’s successes as our own.” Those comments perfectly capture the collaborative and empowering environment we strive to create every day.
Our results are something we are incredibly proud of. With 92% of colleagues agreeing that Compass Recruitment Solutions is a great place to work, alongside exceptionally high scores for inclusion, belonging, leadership, customer service and team spirit, the feedback demonstrates the strength of the culture built across our group. The fact that 98% of colleagues felt welcomed when they joined the business and 93% are proud to tell others they work here is particularly rewarding, as these are powerful indicators of engagement, advocacy and a strong sense of belonging.
One result that especially resonates with me is our commitment to customer service. Across all of our brands, we strive to deliver exceptional experiences to the clients and candidates we support every day, and it is wonderful to see that reflected in our results, with 97% of colleagues believing our customers would rate the service we deliver as excellent.
In a world increasingly shaped by technology and AI, this reinforces a fundamental truth about Compass Recruitment Solutions: our success is powered by people. Whilst we embrace innovation and technology to enhance what we do, the relationships we build, the expertise we provide and the quality of service we deliver will always be driven by the passion, knowledge and dedication of our teams. The human element remains at the heart of everything we do, and we believe that is what truly sets us apart.
This certification is also a reflection of the shared values that underpin every brand within our group. Whether supporting healthcare providers, life sciences organisations, pharmaceutical companies or executive search clients, our people are united by a common commitment to excellence, collaboration and making a positive impact through the work they do.
Another result that made us particularly proud was that 93% of colleagues describe Compass as a fun place to work. Beyond the numbers, colleagues spoke about the culture with genuine warmth, describing Compass as “a great community of people that really focus on developing the team and care” and highlighting the supportive nature of colleagues across every brand. These comments reflect the environment we have worked hard to create and maintain as we continue to grow.
We spend a significant part of our lives at work, and whilst we are ambitious, driven and focused on delivering results, we also believe people should genuinely enjoy being here. Creating a workplace where colleagues can build strong relationships, celebrate success together and have fun along the way is an important part of who we are.
A positive culture is not just good for wellbeing; it is also a key ingredient in building high-performing teams.
Of course, being certified as a Great Place to Work® is not a finish line. In fact, it gives us an even greater responsibility to continue listening to our people and acting on their feedback. The report highlights areas where we can continue to improve, and we welcome those insights. Great cultures are never static; they evolve, grow and adapt alongside the needs of the people within them.
As Group People Director, I want to thank every colleague across Compass Recruitment Solutions for contributing to this achievement. It is your dedication, passion, positivity and commitment to one another that have made this possible.
As we continue to grow, we remain focused on creating an environment where people can build successful careers, develop professionally, feel a sense of belonging and enjoy coming to work each day. One colleague summarised this particularly powerfully, describing Compass as a place with “endless opportunity to progress. True meritocracy – work hard and you will do well.” Comments like this reinforce our commitment to creating an environment where talent is recognised, development is encouraged and people can achieve their ambitions regardless of where they begin their journey with us.
Having been part of our group’s growth over the years, seeing colleagues describe Compass as supportive, welcoming and full of opportunity is personally one of the most rewarding aspects of this achievement.
Receiving this accreditation for the first time as a group is a proud milestone. More importantly, it reinforces our ambition to be recognised not only as a leading recruitment group within our markets, but as an employer of choice, a place where exceptional people choose to join, stay and thrive.
Thank you to every member of the Compass family for helping make Compass Recruitment Solutions a truly Great Place to Work®.
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