Compass Associates, part of Compass Recruitment Solutions (CRS), has been awarded Great Place to Work® Certification, marking the first time the accreditation has been achieved across the wider group.
The certification recognises every brand within Compass Recruitment Solutions, including Compass Associates, Carrot Recruitment, Consult, MedExec, Compass Carter Osborne and the central CRS functions. Based entirely on confidential employee feedback, the accreditation provides an independent measure of workplace culture and the employee experience across the business.
Our results are something we are extremely proud of. With 92% of colleagues saying Compass Recruitment Solutions is a great place to work, alongside outstanding scores for inclusion, belonging, leadership, customer service and team spirit, the feedback reflects the strong culture we’ve built across our group. It’s especially rewarding to see that 98% of colleagues felt welcomed when they joined the business and 93% are proud to tell others they work here. These are powerful indicators of engagement, advocacy and a genuine sense of belonging.
One result that stands out in particular is our commitment to customer service. Across all of our brands, we are dedicated to delivering exceptional experiences for the clients and candidates we support every day. Seeing that reflected in our survey, with 97% of colleagues believing our customers would rate our service as excellent, is something we are incredibly pleased with.
Another finding that we were especially pleased to see was that 93% of colleagues describe Compass as a fun place to work. Beyond the scores, the feedback highlighted the strength of our culture, with colleagues describing Compass as “a great community of people that really focus on developing the team and care” and recognising the supportive nature of people across every brand. Comments like these reflect the environment we’ve worked hard to build and continue to nurture as the business grows.
Stuart Cousins, Head of Compass Associates UK said, “What stands out to me in these results is that our people don’t just enjoy working here, they see a genuine future here and we want recruitment to be a career for every member of staff! The feedback on progression, on being trusted to own their desk, and on a real meritocracy where you get out what you put in, is exactly the culture we’ve set out to build at Compass Associates. Being founder-led means our values aren’t a poster on the wall; they’re lived from the top down, and it clearly shows in how the team describes working here – trusted, supported, and backed to grow. To be certified as a Great Place to Work, and to hold our own against the UK’s top 100 medium-sized companies, tells us we’re getting the fundamentals right. But what I’m proudest of is that none of this came from us, it came straight from the team, anonymously and independently. That makes it mean far more. It’s a huge credit to every single person here, and now comes the best part: building on it and pushing on to even bigger things.”
In a world increasingly influenced by technology and AI, these results reinforce what has always been true about Compass Recruitment Solutions: our greatest strength is our people. We continue to embrace innovation and technology to enhance the way we work, but the relationships we build, the expertise we offer and the service we provide will always be driven by the passion, knowledge and commitment of our teams. The human element remains at the heart of everything we do, and we believe that is what truly sets us apart.
While each brand within Compass Recruitment Solutions operates in its own specialist market, the certification reflects the values that unite the group. Whether supporting healthcare providers, life sciences organisations, pharmaceutical companies or executive search clients, every team shares a commitment to excellence, collaboration and creating a positive impact through the work they do.
Commenting on the achievement, Liza Gamblin, Group People Director at Compass Recruitment Solutions, said:
“It gives me immense pride to share these results. Whilst any accreditation is welcome, this recognition feels especially meaningful because it comes directly from the people who matter most, our colleagues. The feedback validates something we have always believed: great businesses are built by great people, and great people thrive in environments where they feel trusted, valued, supported and empowered to succeed.
“At a time when technology and AI are transforming the way businesses operate, these results reinforce something fundamental about Compass Recruitment Solutions. Innovation will continue to enhance how we work, but our success will always be driven by people. The relationships we build, the expertise we provide and the quality of service we deliver all stem from the passion, knowledge and commitment of our teams.”
The certification also serves as a reminder that building a great workplace is an ongoing commitment. Alongside celebrating the positive feedback received, Compass Recruitment Solutions will continue listening to its people and acting on the opportunities identified through the survey to ensure the culture continues to evolve as the business grows.
The group would like to thank every colleague across Compass Recruitment Solutions for making this achievement possible. Their dedication, collaboration and commitment to supporting one another have created an environment where people can build rewarding careers, develop professionally, feel a genuine sense of belonging and enjoy coming to work each day.
Achieving Great Place to Work® Certification as a group marks an important milestone in our journey. It reinforces the ambition to be recognised not only as a leading recruitment group across healthcare and life sciences, but as an employer of choice where exceptional people choose to join, grow and thrive.
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