Pure Planet, the Bath-based business behind the UK’s first app-only energy brand, has been named as the second-best small company to work for in the country.
The high-growth firm, which launched in 2016 and now employs more than 80 staff, has been ranked No 2 in this year’s 100 Best Small Companies report. 
The respected Sunday Times publication champions the businesses that do most to engage, reward and develop their employees.
The league table is based on in-depth staff surveys developed using academically rigorous methodology that get to the heart of what people want and expect from their working lives.
In Pure Planet’s case, the researchers found it had been built on a philosophy of putting people at the heart of running the business and creating it in their culture.
It said from day one, the founders “wanted to create an environment that was inspiring, motivating and meaningful. They want to develop a culture that is not corporate or overly-structured, but is based on trust”.
One of their first actions was to recruit a people director, demonstrating the importance and the commitment the founders place on creating an engaging, people-based workplace.
“Pure Planet also believe strongly in a positive, vibrant engaging workplace where individuals are respected and treated like adults. They are all passionate about wanting to make the world a better and more sustainable place.
“Pure Planet are here for a purpose just as much as making a profit. They therefore value the triple bottom line of people, planet, profit.”
The firm was launched in Bristol by some of the UK mobile telecoms industry’s most experienced executives. It moved to Bath in 2018, attracted by what it called the city’s “dynamic tech industry” along with its entrepreneurial community.
Founders Andrew Ralston, Chris Alliott, Steven Day and Tom Alexander have worked together since 1999 and were responsible for the launch of Virgin Mobile in the UK before going on to run Orange, T-Mobile and EE together.
Tom Alexander is one of Britain’s best-known telecoms entrepreneurs, having created and founded Virgin Mobile alongside Andrew and Steven.
He was chief executive of Trowbridge-based Virgin Mobile, where he was credited with democratising mobile phones by offering a simple, and value-for-money service. He went on to become chief executive of Bristol-based Orange, T-Mobile and EE.
Pure Planet’s vision is to create a sustainable, compelling, mass-market company, which offers its members 100% clean, renewable power at game changing, value-for money prices. 
The unique Best Companies survey system looks for patterns, connections and correlations between employee responses going beyond just identifying how employees feel to uncover why they feel that way.
Pure Planet’s findings showed that all three founders sit in the open-plan office, working among various teams. They are all approachable either for face-to-face chats or available via private messages on Slack.
The company has two fully trained mental health first aiders, who the teams can go and meet with to discuss any issues. They also have an external employee assistance programme.
For the past two years the firm has held a Carbon Free Commute day in June when all team members are asked to reduce their carbon output to zero as they travel to work. People have cycled, ran, walked, and skateboarded to work. Annual staff turnover at the firm is 5%.
Number one was Brightstar Financial, an Essex-based financial distributor who specialise in residential mortgages and later life lending.
Pictured, Pure Planet founders, from left: Chris Alliott, Steven Day and Andrew Ralston
