Best Place to Work 2018

Start-up name: Tonik Energy
Founders: Chris Russell, Simon Perkins, and Jim Hayward
Started in: August 2016
Based in: Birmingham
Business description: Renewable energy, gas and electricity supplier

Tonik Energy is a renewable energy company saving its customers tonnes of carbon while also shaking up the market with a green gas alternative.

And, while the company is aiming to become a game changer in the energy industry, it’s also striving to provide a game-changing company culture by building a great place to work.

Awarded the inaugural Best Place to Work title at the Startups Awards, Tonik actively promotes flexible working and encourages its employees to work from anywhere remotely.

This commitment to flexible working is reflected by the fact that the start-up gives each of its member services agents their own laptops.

As a young company, but growing fast, Tonik has already scaled its team to some 150 staff and the founders say that, to succeed, they know they have to get the basics – such as creating a great team and place to be – right.

Based in Birmingham, founders Chris Russell, Jim Hayward, and Simon Perkins refer to the Tonik team as a “family” and say that they like to think of their team as a virtuous circle – you get what you give.

In Russell, Hayward and Perkins words “that means getting the right people, with the right skills in the right roles. But more importantly, we want people with the right attitudes. We invite our people to bring all that they are and hope that we give them what they need to become everything they want to be.”

While Tonik was credited for its flexible working ethos, finalists Talentful and London Grace also won praise from the judges.

Talentful took home the accolade for Highly Commended for giving its team of 70 access to impressive on-boarding academies and ‘kick-ass’ socials, while 100-strong London Grace took the title of Commended for the continued professional development of its staff.