Softcat on recruitment roll after Sunday Times victory

Microsoft LAR is the best small company to work for in the UK, according to prestigious survey

Softcat scooped top honours in prestigious contest

Reseller Softcat plans to step up its recruitment drive after topping the 2010 Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For list.

The Microsoft large account reseller beat off competition from 571 companies which were weighed and measured in eight areas. Softcat was not the only IT solutions firm to feature in the top 10, with Manchester-based Cisco Gold partner ANS finishing ninth, up from 24th last year.

As well as being named the outright winner, Buckinghamshire-based Softcat won three individual categories. Managing director Martin Hellawell was named runner-up for the Leader of the Year award.

Founded in 1993, Softcat has grown into a £114m-turnover company with 215 staff.

Headcount rose 12 per cent over the past 12 months and Softcat said it intends to continue recruiting “aggressively” in Marlow and Manchester – as well as a forthcoming location in London.

"This is a wonderful accolade for Softcat, and a real tribute to all our staff," said chairman and founder Peter Kelly.

“When I set up Softcat 17 years ago, my key goal was to establish a workplace where employees would be happy and prosper. We still have work to do, but this is perhaps a sign that we’re getting there.”

Hellawell said: “A fully motivated and engaged workforce is not a nice-to-have for us, it’s a necessity."