A range of people-first initiatives have helped SpaMedica - a leading provider of NHS ophthalmology services - to earn a coveted spot on the list of the UK's Best Workplaces for Development 2025.
Compiled by Great Place To Work, the global authority on workplace culture, SpaMedica was named among the UK's Top 50 employers, highlighting its efforts to support almost 2,000 employees to better themselves, learn new skills, and progress within the organisation.
The company, which operates 64 hospitals across the UK, was assessed on its culture, benefits, and approach to leadership and development, with anonymous responses from employees also considered. Only the businesses who achieved the highest scores after evaluation received Best Workplaces status.
Jo-Anne Ratcliffe, Chief People Officer at SpaMedica, explains how the accolade reflects SpaMedica’s continued commitment to people and culture. She said: “It’s fantastic to be ranked as a UK ‘Best Workplace’ for development. Whether it’s our colleague-led networks, enhanced benefits, or simply giving people more ways to support each other, our people strategy is all about creating a culture where everyone can grow and feel celebrated - both professionally and personally.
“For example, in November 2024, we launched our ‘SpaMedica&Me’ platform, and within four months, 97% of employees were using it to look at wellbeing resources, read our employee stories, access benefits, and send recognition to their peers. In less than six months, over 3,900 'moments of recognition' have been shared between colleagues, which is just incredible and a testament to the sense of unity and connection that we’re nurturing across our teams nationwide.”
Among the company’s most recent people initiatives are:
- ‘SpaMedica Pride’, an LGBTQ+ colleague network, which rolled out ‘Pride Promise Badges’ in March 2025 to encourage allyship and visibility.
- ‘Neurodiversity @ SpaMedica’, which creates a safe environment for colleagues to exchange experiences, feel heard and support each other throughout their professional journeys.
- Enhanced maternity and adoption pay to help colleagues who are looking to start or grow their families.
- A pension salary sacrifice scheme, to enable employees to increase take-home pay.
- An expanding inclusion and engagement calendar that seeks to celebrate all SpaMedica’s communities, cultures and faiths, embracing each person as an individual.
SpaMedica also offers several in-house training and development programmes, with over 35,000 hours of learning delivered over the past year.
Benedict Gautrey, Managing Director of Great Place To Work UK, added: “Training and development aren’t just about helping employees perform their day-to-day tasks – they’re about demonstrating that people are valued and that there’s a clear path for growth and inclusion.
“Every year, we celebrate organisations that are building exceptional workplace cultures where people and businesses thrive. Learning and development opportunities are a key part of that, which is why we’re especially excited to be unveiling the UK’s Best Workplaces for Development. Congratulations SpaMedica for being part of our 2025 UK’s Best Workplaces for Development List."
Taken into consideration in the Top 50 ranking was anonymous scoring of employee experience. SpaMedica achieved 87% agreement for ‘I am given the resources and equipment to do my job’, and 83% of its employees reported that ‘management trusts people to do a good job without watching over their shoulders’.
To join the SpaMedica team, or learn more about career opportunities, visit https://www.spamedica.co.uk/careers/
