Architects dominate Building’s annual list of top construction employers

Assael Architecture has again been named as the industry’s best employer, as architects dominated Building’s annual list of top construction employers. 

The London housing specialist, which won the award back in 2015 and was runner-up last year, was one of 19 architects that made it into this year’s roll call of top 50 companies, with consultants accounting for 16 of the firms on the list. 

The remaining spots were filled by seven contractors, six engineers and two housebuilders.

Judges described Assael, which is working on a number of build-to-rent schemes across the capital, as “a true all-rounder”. Its benefits, which include 40 days of annual leave and assisting staff with childcare costs, have helped push staff turnover down from 15% last year to just 4%.

The firm beat consultant Alinea, which was runner-up, with architects Architype and JTP and engineer Max Fordham rounding out the top five.

Architects were the smallest firms on the list, with an average of 98 employees each, while the average number of employees for the top 50 was 260.

Average staff turnover stayed more or less level at 12% between 2015 and 2016.

The amount of annual holiday offered by the top 50 averages 23 days, while 29 firms offer more than 30 days to some employees.

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