In addition, specialist broker secured the highest ever score in the history of the competition for people engagement – 874.2 compared to 844 the previous year.

The Brightstar Group also received a Three Star Best Companies accreditation; the highest quality mark possible, awarded to companies that have demonstrated extraordinary levels of workplace engagement.

It is the first time that any business from any industry has topped the list for two years running and is testament to the continued focus that Brightstar places on people development and staff engagement. This year, the Best Companies survey received 757 applications and surveyed nearly 400,000 employees.

Headquartered in Billericay, Essex, The Brightstar Group also incorporates Sirius Property Finance. It was founded in 2011 and was an early adopter of the Women in Finance Charter and has been a trailblazer and ambassador for the campaign ever since.

Brightstar has also been a pioneer in championing awareness about employee wellbeing and mental health issues. In 2017 the business opened a Wellbeing Room to provide its people with a dedicated space to relax and unwind as part of its Mental Health Action Plan.

Last year it won both the Best Small Company to work for in the UK and the Best Overall Company to work for in the East of England.

Clare Jupp, people development director at Brightstar Financial, said: “It is very hard to express how absolutely delighted and proud I am feeling right now.

“It was an incredible achievement to have won last year at the first time of asking, but to win for a second consecutive year is utterly amazing and is testament to the unbelievable dedication of our people and their appetite to improve.”

“I would really like to thank our team who share an outstanding attitude to work and full commitment to giving a fantastic service experience to our introducers and clients.

“We believe that we have created a working environment and business culture where there is a strong sense of belonging and where our people feel cared for, motivated and rewarded for their contribution and achievement. But we are conscious that we cannot rest on our laurels, so to build on our fantastic performance from last year is particularly pleasing.”