TWO Northern Ireland firms have been ranked among the top companies to work for in the UK.
IT firm Novosco and Munster Simms Engineering (Whale Water Systems) were included on the Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For listing.
The leadership of Novosco's managing director Patrick McAliskey was highlighted for particular praise "This managing director is a long-running inspiration, say the employees at the Belfast-based IT company," it said. "They have faith in him (giving a top-five, 94 per cent positive score, the firm's best result)."
The company employs 90 people and was also praised for having women as at least 33 per cent of senior managers, its charity activities, and encouraging healthy eating.
Whale, founded in the 1940s designs in intelligent control electronic pump systems and gas/electric heating systems for water and space in recreational vehicles.
It also supplies the marine, caravan/motorhome, shower drainage and industrial markets around the world with innovative freshwater, bilge and waste pumps. Novosco, headquartered in the Northern Ireland Science Park in Belfast, also has offices in Dublin and Birmingham and carries out work for large organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors. Managing director Patrick McAliskey said: "One of our key goals is to recruit and retain the very best people in the sector, as they are what set us apart from our competitors. "We put a big emphasis on making Novosco a great place to work and we're pleased that the Sunday Times have recognised that again this year."
Novosco grew its turnover from £15m in 2012 to more than £23m in 2013, and already this year the company has added further significant contracts in Britain.
It provides cloud computing and IT infrastructure services, including disaster recovery, managed services and connectivity services.