LDC-backed portfolio companies recognised as top employers

Three of our portfolio companies have been recognised in one of the UK’s most prestigious accolades for outstanding workplaces, The Sunday Times Best Places to Work.

Croud, Lomond Group and The Edwin Group have all secured a place in the 2024 list, which recognises businesses that create inspiring and healthy workplaces.

Judges hailed the inclusive company culture at digital marketing agency Croud. It provides its 300 employees with a range of social activities, from craft evenings to the Shrewsbury Dragon Boat Race, while professional development is driven by an online learning platform that features more than 700 courses. Croud – which has offices in London, Shrewsbury, New York and Dubai – also offers its employees benefits including railcards, loans for season tickets and remote working opportunities.

Lomond Group, a national lettings and estate agency that employs more than 1,100 people, has been commended for its investment in people. It provides stand-out mental health support to its employees, according to judges, alongside a mentorship scheme and employee assistance programme that offers free counselling support and mental health resources. Lomond’s employees can also access enhanced packages for maternity, paternity, adoption and IVF leave, in addition to the company’s smart spending app that provides discounts at more than 900 retailers.

The Edwin Group recruits and supplies teachers and support staff for primary, secondary and special educational needs and disability (SEND) schools and other learning institutions. It employs more than 330 people and has recently opened in Cardiff, Southampton and Cornwall. All its people have access to mental health first aid champions and menopause ambassadors, while perks include reduced working hours during school holidays plus a bonus and commission scheme.

In addition to our own portfolio companies, six alumni businesses from The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme, which celebrates the leaders behind growing businesses from every sector and region of the UK economy, were also recognised by The Sunday Times. This includes:

• Bella & Duke – The Dunfermline-based raw pet food producer encourages its employees to bring their pets to work with a full-time park ranger for support.
• Cotswold Energy Group – The Gloucestershire-based renewable energy and utilities business rewards employees with gigs at The O2 and lunches.
• Curvy Kate – The Uxbridge-based lingerie and swimwear business offers “quarterly conversations” over formal appraisals along with shopping discounts and mental wellbeing support.
• Lovat Parks – The holiday parks operator, based in London, is recognised with B Corp, Living Wage Foundation and Disability Confident Committed Employer status.
• Mowgli Street Food – The Indian street food chain, based in Liverpool, has introduced equity, diversity and inclusion training in every restaurant.
• SoPost – Employees at the digital sampling platform business, based in Newcastle, can work anywhere in the world for two weeks every year and long servers can take paid sabbaticals.

We would like to congratulate all the businesses that were recognised by The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024. Read the full list.