The ranking is particularly significant because it is based on an independent and anonymous survey of employees across the country, rather than information provided via employers. More than 200,000 evaluations were gathered from 20,000 staff working in organisations with over 250 employees.
Participants were asked to provide:
- Direct evaluations of their own employer, including how likely they would be to recommend their workplace to friends and family.
- Indirect evaluations of other employers in their sector.
- Feedback on areas such as working conditions, salary, development opportunities and organisational culture.
Direct employee recommendations were given the greatest weight in the final scoring, making Cambridge’s top position a strong reflection of how colleagues feel about working here.
Welcoming the list’s publication, Professor Kamal Munir, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for University Community and Engagement, said: “I am very proud of this important recognition in the Financial Times, which reflects the hard work of many colleagues. We are committed to continually improving the working environment and supporting academic and professional excellence.”
The University of Cambridge has been ranked the UK’s top employer in the Financial Times’ Best Employers 2026 survey.
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