How many start-ups are great places to work (really)?

What do you think it's like working at a tech start-up? Be honest.

People wearing many hats? Long hours and working weekends? Bagels, Pizza parties and ping pong?

Most start-up teams would say yes to all of the above (although in our case, it's shuffleboard). You don't imagine that people would say they feel supported by their managers, or that they have autonomy in their role, and a decent work/life balance.

That's why it was such a proud moment for me, and everyone at Build Concierge, when we were awarded a Best Companies 1-Star accreditation this week.

Companies can only apply for a star when they have been around for two years but, here's the thing about Build Concierge: we have only been trading for one of those years. To achieve such an accolade so quickly, and during such a high-pressure stage of the journey, makes the win all the sweeter.

It's a testament to the dedication, empathy and leadership of the management team, I'm looking at you Simon Field, Paul Witter, Matt Fisher, Serge Fagelman, Leah Port, Alex Abrahams, Tansy Sheehy, Andy Davenport and Lisa Boonin. A Best Companies accreditation doesn't come about because of a well-written nomination; it's based on independent feedback from our own people about what it's really like to work here.

Best Companies has been going for a quarter of a century. When you look back at the first winners back in 2001, you'll find the likes of Asda, Admiral and Pearson, companies that are still thriving, still ahead of the pack, even today. What a privilege to be in such fine company.

I have always believed that a happy team leads to happy customers. And this instinct has been borne out by numerous studies; research from AWS shows that six out of seven startup leaders believe a company's culture contributes to its growth. If you look at my previous companies, all have won awards for being a great place to work. At BigChange, we even achieved a coveted Best Companies 2-Star accreditation.

Let me tell you about an email that I was sent earlier this week from a customer. They have been with us for around six months, and are still on their implementation journey with us, bringing on new features one at a time to give their people time to adapt.

This customer has been in business for more than 20 years. They said that Build Concierge has given them "a new lease of life", increasing their motivation and enthusiasm, because of what our AI Automation and Communication Platform is doing for the business.

Most of this email wasn't about the tech, it was about our people. Their professionalism. Their above-and-beyond support. This is why we talk about being more than a SaaS start-up. Our model is SaS+, Software and Service Plus. The service is as important as the platform.

So yes, we may work longer hours, have periods of high intensity, and kick back now and again with shuffleboards and food. But no one here is clock-watching. Everyone genuinely cares about our customers. And, I'm going to come right out and say it: this one-star Best Companies is only the beginning. I've already got the second in my sights.