Top 50 legal and professional services firm Ampa Group, best known for its full-service law firm Shakespeare Martineau, has been recognised for its outstanding workplace culture – earning a coveted place in the Best Companies list for 2025.

The group has been named as a “very good” company to work for, achieving a one-star rating in Best Companies’ highly regarded accreditation programme, which celebrates organisations committed to exceptional employee engagement.

Ampa Group has also been recognised as one of the UK’s top 75 best large companies, climbing to 63rd from 116th in 2022. Within the legal sector, the group ranked 12th for employee engagement among participating law firms, up from 15th.

Sarah Walker-Smith, CEO of Ampa Group, said: “Being recognised by Best Companies matters because it comes directly from our people. At Ampa Group, we have committed to being bigger, better and braver in everything we do, and we are proud to have created an environment where brilliant individuals can truly thrive and be themselves.

“Our culture is built on being authentic, trusted, collaborative and brave, and this result tells us our people feel that in their daily working lives too. We will continue to push boundaries, invest in our talent and build a workplace where everyone can unlock their potential.”

Ampa Group and its brands achieved strong results across the regional Best Companies lists, including first-time entries in Yorkshire and The Humber (24th), the South West (22nd) and the South East (57th). They also improved their positions in the East Midlands (12th, previously 36th), West Midlands (28th, previously 38th) and London (40th, previously 54th).

The rankings are based on an independent and anonymous survey of colleagues across the group, with 964 people taking part, reflecting the organisation’s continued commitment to transparency, engagement and a positive workplace culture.

Through its participation in the Best Companies survey, Ampa Group also raised £2,892 for the Social Mobility Business Partnership, reinforcing the group’s long-standing commitment to improving social mobility. This donation aligns closely with the recently launched Unlocking Potential (UP) programme, which supports individuals from all backgrounds to access opportunities, develop new skills and thrive in professional careers.

Ampa Group is one of the world’s largest professional services B-Corporations. Brands include law firms Shakespeare Martineau, Lime Solicitors and Mayo Wynne Baxter; planning, design, heritage and development consultancy Marrons; M&A advisory firm Coadax; cyber security consultancy CSS Assure; and uninsured loss recovery specialist Corclaim.

Current brands within the group include law firms Shakespeare Martineau, Lime Solicitors and Mayo Wynne Baxter; planning, design, heritage and development consultancy Marrons; M&A advisory firm Coadax; cyber security consultancy CSS Assure; and uninsured loss recovery specialist Corclaim.