Engineering has been plagued with problems recruiting and retaining staff, but some UK consultancies prove that engineering firms can get it right
Five companies in the UK engineering and construction sector appear in this year’s Top 100 Companies to Work For compiled by the Sunday Times.

Arup (number 29 on the list), Faber Maunsell (56), Kier Group (72), Mott MacDonald (86) and Black & Veatch Consulting (89) all passed the rigorous selection procedure. After being nominated, a random selection of employees is surveyed. Companies then complete a questionnaire which allows them to say why they think they’re great to work for, and then a team of researchers visits the organisations to see first hand how things are done.

At Arup, 84% of staff think the company ‘makes the world we live in a better place’. Employees also say that the firm offers them freedom of speech and a friendly, collegiate atmosphere with generous benefits.

Although a much smaller company in terms of number of employees, Surrey-based engineering consultancy Black & Veatch also offers a good benefits package and is based on a culture of courtesy and trust established by the firm’s founder in 1909.

Extra recognition was given to Arup with the Best for over 55’s award. The Sunday Times commented: “Arup appears to have found the right formula for both retaining and keeping happy the ‘senior citizens’ of the workforce.” It also has the highest happiness scores for the over 55’s of any company, and has more than 10% in this age group.

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