Meet the Founding Cohort of the Top 1%: Part 1 – Finance Earth, Applied, The Economist Educational Foundation, Unifrog and Rare Recruitment

Are you looking for a workplace that prioritises progress and people? This month we launched our game changing Top 1% Employer Certification, which cuts through all the noise and spotlights the progressive organisations that are really putting their teams first with innovative people and culture policies.

The Top 1% is a clear, trusted signal of excellence which highlights the best of the best—the teams that are leading the way for workplaces everywhere. The recognised organisations have been thoroughly vetted to ensure they’re not just talking the talk but walking the walk, across six essential criteria: Mission & Strategy, Leadership & Management, People Foundations, Enabling Teams, and Reward & Recognition. It also integrates anonymous employee feedback to ensure the evaluation is thorough and authentic.

We're proud to launch the Top 1% with 15 incredible founding organisations that exemplify what it means to be small yet progressive. In this article, we'll introduce you to five of them, so grab a cup of tea (or drink of your choice), set aside 5 minutes, and discover these inspiring organisations (who could be your new team in the future!):

The Economist Educational Foundation: The Economist Educational Foundation is a pioneering, female-led charity that combines educational expertise with The Economist’s journalistic insight. Committed to empowering disadvantaged children, it equips them with essential skills to navigate today’s complex world of misinformation, social challenges, and environmental issues. By supporting passionate teachers, the Foundation fosters meaningful classroom discussions that teach children to think critically, communicate effectively, and better understand global issues. With six months of full maternity pay and a mission-driven culture, it’s a place where purpose and people thrive together.

Applied: You don’t need to take our word for it that Applied is reshaping recruitment — the proof is in their impact. Their platform helps organisations hire smarter by removing unconscious bias through anonymous, competency-based assessments. As demand for fairer hiring grows, so does Applied, earning top marks for their inclusive culture, gender-neutral parental policies, and supportive remote first work setup. With a mission-driven team passionate about building a better future for hiring, they’re definitely one to watch if you’re on the lookout for meaningful career opportunities.

Unifrog: Unifrog puts a positive social impact at the forefront of their mission by levelling the playing field for young people on the hunt for the best opportunities for them. They do this by engaging students on their platform - providing them with the means to compare school leaver programmes, apprenticeships and higher education courses in the UK - while partnering with schools to provide better oversight of the progress of students' applications. It's been built by education professionals and it shows in their success: they are rapidly expanding their reach into Europe, Asia, Australasia and the Middle East with a wealth of opportunities popping up on the team.

Rare Recruitment: Rare Recruitment are on a mission to help the best employers in the world build better workforces that also reflect society's diversity. And we think they are an invaluable organisation, bringing a real sense of purpose into the world of recruitment. With their software and candidate development programmes they have changed the lives of hundreds of job seekers. They’re a close team with a meaningful ethos who truly practice what they preach — and you could be their newest team member.

Finance Earth: Finance Earth is a mission-driven, employee-owned social enterprise at the cutting edge of creating financial solutions for a better planet. As the UK’s leading environmental impact investment advisor and fund manager, they partner with world-leading organisations like RSPB, WWF, and the National Trust to protect and restore nature and tackle climate change. Turning environmental challenges into opportunities for positive change, their work drives real-world outcomes for people and the planet. With a pioneering team and an amazing culture, it’s no surprise they’ve become a great place to work.

Curious to learn more? Explore the 15 exceptional organisations recognised as Top 1% Employers – you might just find your next progressive workplace!