Two Bath firms are among the finalists in a contest to find the South West’s most cheerful workplace.
Content marketing agency M2 Bespoke, based in Limpley Stoke, and charity Ethiopiaid, based in the Upper Borough Walls in the city centre, line up against nine other businesses from across the region for the coveted title. 
Both offer their staff a relaxed and flexible attitude to working hours and conditions and a happy working environment.
Ethiopiaid was started by Sir Alec Reed – founder of Reed Recruitment, after visiting to Ethiopia in the 1980s and witnessing widespread hardship, suffering and poverty.
Starting with an investment of £1m, Sir Alec created a platform for years of change. Ethiopiaid has grown without losing sight of its relatively humble beginnings.
Using a small number of hardworking staff and a donated office space, this £1m has grown into more than £30m in partner donations over 25 successful years.
M2 is a global pioneer in online news and publishing and has been supplying content to leading brands and information providers for more than 20 years.
Both organisations hope to follow in the tracks of Bristol-based skateboard distributor Shiner, which won the inaugural South West Happiest Workplace contest last year by showing the benefits of creating a great workplace culture.
Judging of all shortlisted finalists took place this week.
The awards – the brainchild of Bristol-based workplace and interior design consultancy Wylde Interior Architecture – aim to highlight what separates a happy from a humdrum workplace.
The awards put the spotlight on organisations that go the extra mile to make their staff’s working lives happier and show how this impacts on key business issues such as staff recruitment and retention, reputation and productivity.
Last year’s contest attracted more than 300 entrants from around Bristol and Bath area and has this year been widened to include Swindon, Wiltshire and the whole of the South West.
This year Wylde has joined forces with Herman Miller, the Chippenham-based furniture manufacturer and pioneer of the modern workplace. The competition is being supported by Bath Business News, whose editor Robert Buckland is on the judging panel with Herman Miller workplace specialist Bertie Van Wyk.
The winner will receive a stunning Herman Miller height adjustable desk with monitor arm and beautiful Sayl desk chair. Sayl office chairs will also go to the runners up.
