The college was named in The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025 list, which celebrated organisations with consistently high levels of employee engagement.
Survey results showed that the college scored above the national average in key areas such as engagement, empowerment, wellbeing, communication, and confidence in management.
Janet Gardner, principal and chief executive officer of Waltham Forest College, said: “I am incredibly proud that Waltham Forest College has been recognised as one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK; it is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering an environment where every team member feels valued, empowered, and inspired.
“This achievement reflects the collective dedication of all our staff to create a culture of excellence, integrity, and inclusivity.
“Our staff are our most important asset, and we believe that by investing in our people, we not only enhance their professional growth but also enrich the experiences of our students.
“Together, we are building a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.”
This recognition places Waltham Forest College among the top UK employers, and as one of only two further education colleges, and the only one in London, to feature on the list.
The survey also assessed these employers across various categories, including their support for women, the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled employees, ethnic minorities, and workers of different ages.
Zoe Thomas, editor of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work, said: “The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list is the UK’s biggest survey of employee engagement, compiled in partnership with workplace expert Work.
“Spanning a raft of sectors and located throughout the UK, the organisations in this year’s list range from innovative start-ups with a handful of employees to big multinational corporations staffed by thousands.
“These organisations know that happy employees are the superpower helping them thrive.”
The survey employs 26 questions from WorkL’s employee engagement survey, crafted by experts to accurately gauge employee engagement, wellbeing, and initiative.
It assesses organisations based on criteria such as reward and recognition, empowerment, job satisfaction, wellbeing, information sharing, and instilling pride.
Lord Mark Price, founder of WorkL, said: “Many congratulations to the 2025 Sunday Times Best Places to Work, powered by WorkL.
“The recognised organisations lead the way in employee experience and will now benefit from improved retention and recruitment for the year ahead.
“WorkL is proud to power these awards and support organisations to measure employee experience and to retain and recruit the very best employees.”
The prestigious list, compiled by The Sunday Times in collaboration with WorkL, is a nationwide survey that identifies and honours the UK’s top 500 employers across various industries.
It highlights the best workplaces for women, the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled employees, ethnic minorities, and younger and older workers.
