AN East Lancashire business has topped the Sunday Times best company list.

The Hakim Group, which has head offices in the India Mill Business Centre, Darwen, has been named best small company to work for 2018 by the Sunday Times.

The group, who provide support to optometrist practitioners and offer them the ability to run their own business while providing them with back office support, shot to the top of this year’s list which spotlights the top 100 small companies with the highest Best Companies Index scores.

The scores are determined by the Best Companies Survey, which give employees the opportunity to share how they feel about their work environment.

The survey looks for patterns, connections and correlations between employee responses identifying how employees feel about their work place why they feel that way.

A spokesman for The Hakim Group said the company has taken a proactive approach to taking care of its members of staff since its conception in 2006 by providing ongoing support and encouraging feedback across all aspects of the business.

They have also worked hard to create a culture that their staff enjoy working in, dedicating time to create an exciting calendar of events , including an annual retreat featuring spa treatments, a themed dinner as well as an array of renowned key speakers.

The group also enjoys a bi-annual conference abroad, the most recent of which saw its team members take a ski trip to the French alpine resort of Chamonix, Mont Blanc, the spokesman said.

Hakim Group founder and chief executive, Imran Hakim, also received a special award as the Best Leader. He said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been announced as the UK’s best small company to work for.

“It’s one thing to have made the list for the second year running but to have come in at number one shows how much our team members have grown together over the last 12 months to create a truly exceptional place to work.

“This achievement belongs to each and every one of our team members.”

Jonathan Austin, CEO and founder of Best Companies said : “I would like to congratulate Hakim Group on their achievement.

“This year it is encouraging to see that more and more organisations are recognising the value of employee engagement and are willing to benchmark themselves against the best to ensure they are offering their employees the best possible experience.

“Organisations like Hakim have continued to focus on their employees and have been rewarded with an engaged workforce who tell us that this is a great place to work.”