Summary
London based PR agency Fishburn Hedges attributes exceptionally low levels of staff turnover and dramatic levels of interest from prospective employees to their commitment to invest time and money in their employees.

Background
Fishburn Hedges is a London based PR agency employing 98 employees. The company, which was founded as recently as 1991, was ranked as the 'second best place to work in Britain' in the Financial Times Best Workplace 2003 survey and the 'ninth best place to work in Britain' in 2004.

How they do it

• Staff rewards. The organisation provides staff with gifts for Valentines, Easter and Birthdays as well as the usual Christmas bonus. Ice cream is given to staff on hot days and pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. Social events are organised including staff sports days, staff treasure hunts and regular staff parties, some of which have seen the company paying upwards of £170 per head to entertain its staff. Members of staff who are ill often get personal 'get well' messages or visits from senior management.

• Compensation for working long hours. The employee benefits continue, with members of staff who have worked long or anti-social hours being compensated with trips to health resorts or activity centres as well as receiving time off in lieu. 

Business Benefits

• Levels of staff turnover are extremely low. Since the company was founded in 1991 only eight members of staff have left to join rival companies.
  
  
• Profit margins of 25% are very high compared to the industry average.
  
  
• High interest from prospective employees. The organisation also enjoys the benefits of having a reputation of being a good employer, with 900 graduates applying for three places on the company's graduate training scheme for 2003.