The Sunday Times has named Business West as one of the top 20 best business services companies to work for in the UK.

The South West's largest Chamber of Commerce employs around 200 staff and works with 20,000 businesses across the region, enabling them to start, grow, export and innovate, as well as lobbying government on their behalf.

The extremely competitive scheme is run by employee engagement specialists, Best Companies. Jonathan Austin, founder and CEO, said: "I would like to congratulate Business West on achieving a place on the Business Services' 20 Best Companies to Work For List 2021. Being named as a Best Company is something that organisations the length and breadth of the nation strive for - but only the very best achieve."

Based on an anonymous survey capturing the views of employees at more than a thousand companies nationwide, the study ranks employers on a variety of factors that shape the employee experience, from office perks and pensions to CSR and equal opportunities. It is a standard of excellence towards which many companies aspire.

Business West comes in 15th in the Business Services 20 Best Companies to Work For list and was praised highly by a panel of experts for putting staff mental health and wellbeing first throughout the pandemic.

This accolade comes as Business West obtains B Corp status - an internationally recognised certification that is awarded to select companies demonstrating the highest moral, ethical and environmental standards.

Phil Smith, managing director of Business West, said: "Business West's purpose driven ethos and its commitment to putting people and planet first - even in these most turbulent of times - is reflected in the overall happiness and satisfaction of our staff.

"To be recognised as one of the best business services companies to work for nationally this year of all years, in the face of unparalleled disruption to our working lives is testament to the hard work and dedication of all our staff and in particular, the compassionate leadership of our management teams.

"Our Sunday Times ranking demonstrates that Business West is an organisation that punches well above its weight, not only in unlocking the growth potential of our clients, but as a high calibre employer. This award underlines our core company values and it is fantastic to be recognised by an external organisation as one of the best business services companies to work for in the UK."

Since 2015, Business West has featured regularly in The Sunday Times' annual Best Companies to Work For list, owing to its friendly and inclusive atmosphere, generous pension contributions and flexible working arrangements.

A monthly working from home allowance, one off Friday night takeaway bonus and regular all staff meetings are just some of the measures implemented by Business West since the beginning of the pandemic.