Prioritising employee welfare was one of Business First Partnership’s founding principles almost 30 years ago and has underpinned our philosophy ever since, culminating in being recognised as the gold standard for workplace culture.
Last week BFP was officially ranked No. 2 in the UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2025 in the small business category, announced at an awards ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House, hosted by comedian Richard Ayoade.
The prestigious recognition highlights our commitment across Business First Collection to fostering an outstanding work environment for all our colleagues via a supportive and positive culture.
To celebrate the award, we talked to BFP’s Co-Founder and CEO Nigel Taylor to cover in depth the importance of culture and treating people well and why he was driven to establish a successful corporate Travel Management Company with a difference.
Proud milestone
The ranking is a significant step forward from BFP’s Great Place To Work (GPTW) certification in 2024. BFP received the highest possible score in every category of the anonymous survey, with 100% of its team agreeing that BFP is a great place to work, compared to the national average of 54%.
“We’ve worked hard to build a culture of trust, support, and respect within our team, and we’re thrilled to have received 100% positive feedback through such a respected independent survey,” said Nigel.
“Gaining our first Great Place to Work® certification in 2024 was a huge milestone, but to now be ranked as the second-best workplace in our category is truly incredible.”
Founding principles
BFP’s strong emphasis on valuing its people stems from Nigel’s own early career experiences.
“I have worked in some really toxic environments,” Nigel reflected to the extent that my health really suffered. I decided then that something had to change.”
Nigel left his well-paid job and embarked on the beginning of BFP’s journey with his Co-Founder and wife Belinda Swan, launching in 1997.
Nigel was determined to take a different approach to business and build a company that not only thrives but also supports its team.
Building the foundations
“The first few years of setting up the business were incredibly tough,” reflects Nigel. We had a lot of support from family, and we were literally knocking on doors to get our first clients. We were determined to make a success of it.”
That determination was fuelled by the negativity Nigel had experienced working for large corporates in the 1990’s.
For the first few years, BFP worked with small businesses, carefully building up revenue and establishing a reputation.
“In the beginning, we were building up our client base slowly and starting to make headway. By year three, we landed a major software company, and it was all thanks to our team’s personality and our ability to connect, not just what we were offering.”
Compassionate culture
BFP’s success is not just about landing big contracts. It’s about nurturing an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, a culture built on kindness and respect.
The business has consistently prioritised collaboration over competition, implementing team-wide rewards to encourage collective success. This approach has fostered a supportive work environment, preventing the over-competitive sales culture, driven solely by individual achievements.
Nigel said: “The company culture has always been about compassion and support.
“But to make a success of it, we also had to make some tough decisions along the way, for example if people weren’t the right fit for a role. We never hid from that but always remained respectful in those moments.”
People first
BFP’s commitment to its people has driven the company’s growth.
“We didn’t just want to be successful financially,” said Nigel. “As we grew, we wanted to share that success with our team.
“By offering rewards and creating a special environment, we ensured everyone felt valued and thrived as the company grew.”
The focus on people enabled BFP to build a strong business and a loyal and motivated team.
“We’ve always believed in investing in our people,” Nigel added. “Even when it meant paying above industry rates and offering generous bonuses, it was all about ensuring our team felt appreciated and motivated. But we didn’t want them to just work for a pay cheque; we wanted them to feel part of something special.”
Across Business First Collection there is a respect for life events, whether building a family or coping with bereavement.
“It’s all about trust,” said Nigel. “We’ve built a culture where people can go through life’s challenges without the guilt of missing work, knowing they’ll be supported.”
He added: “We also introduced flexible shifts to help parents manage their work and family lives.
“For example, splitting the day so they can work early, spend time with their children, and still get the job done.”
Health and Wellbeing
Business First Collection’s Health and Wellbeing Hub has also made a significant positive impact on both the personal and professional lives of the team.
The Hub provides access to services like free counselling, a variety of workouts, healthy recipes, and quarterly incentives such as family days out, event tickets, and hospitality vouchers.
“It’s not just about the work; it’s about taking care of the whole person, physically and mentally,” adds Nigel. “We continue to think outside the box in terms of employee benefits.”
BFP Rewards
BFP has an innovative rewards programme, that every team member participates in. These rewards can be saved and accumulated over time, allowing colleagues to treat themselves to enriching experiences such as afternoon tea at Claridge’s, a family weekend getaway, or a luxury purchase. The key is the reward is used for something meaningful rather than everyday expenses like bills.
Nigel explained: “It’s about having an experience, giving something back, and allowing them to share with the team how they’ve used it. All of this helps foster conversations outside of work and strengthens team bonding.”
Steadfast commitment
As Business First Collection continues to grow across its core service offerings Nigel remains committed to his original mission: building a successful company that puts people first.
He said: “I feel like I’m on this crusade, with all this momentum continuing to build. It’s an exciting time right now, I’ve got a lot of people that I care about in my business.”
Nigel projects that the business will double in size over the next five years, and he remains as passionate as ever about the company.
“We get acquisition interest every week, but if you’re going to sell your company, are you saying that you’re bored with work? Well, I’m not. I love what I do!”
The UK’s Best Workplaces™ 2025 award is a testament not only to Nigel and Belinda’s dedication to the business they have spent nearly three decades building, but also to their unwavering commitment to colleague wellbeing and progression and the undeniable value of a company culture that truly supports its people.
