The city's college has been voted as one of the country's top 100 best not-for-profit organisations to work for as announced by the Sunday Times league tables published this month.

The national list highlights the 'happiest and most dynamic' public sector bodies, charities and housing associations in Britain and the national survey of over 60,000 employees across the country ranked Exeter College in 60th place – an improvement from its last position in 2011 when it came 98th. Exeter College is one of only four further education institutions who have made it into the top 100 with the college being pipped to top education spot by St Dominic's Sixth Form College in Harrow, London.

On hearing the news Richard Atkins, Principal said “Our national accolades for excellence are due to our hardworking and focussed students and crucially the support, talent and commitment of truly outstanding staff and this award recognises their achievements and the college they have helped to create.”

The survey of the 839 staff at the college identified best practice defined by eight key indicators of workplace engagement. These covered staff opinions on personal development, their manager, colleagues, pay and benefits, wellbeing, their organisation's leadership and willingness to give something back, plus their sense of affiliation with their employer. As well as being ranked 60th for the overall survey the college scored in the top 25 in the UK for positive scores for staff's opinion of their team reflecting the college's close working faculty and business support teams.

“This survey comes at a difficult time for public sector organisations,” said John Laramy, Vice-Principal, “and while we are not immune to the economic environment, our commitment to our staff and making Exeter College an employer of choice remains consistent. This year we've developed a new gym for staff and student use and introduced leadership and management training across teams in the college.”

The Sunday Times report noted the college's Outstanding Ofsted pilot report also saying “Employees believe they make a valuable contribution to the success of the organisation.”