8 Belgian Best Workplaces™ Reach the European Top: What We Can Learn from the Best Small & Medium Workplaces in Europe™ 2026
On 17 September 2026, Great Place To Work® announced the Best Small & Medium Workplaces in Europe™ 2026 list. This European ranking recognises the 100 best small and medium-sized organisations (with 50 to 499 employees in Europe) that excel in workplace culture and employee experience. The result for Belgium is impressive: no fewer than 8 Belgian Best Workplaces™ have secured a place in the European top 100.
Belgian organisations make an impressive leap
Belgium’s strong representation not only demonstrates that our organisations belong on the European stage, but also highlights remarkable progress compared with previous years:
- Axxes achieved a podium position, rising from 16th to 3rd place in Europe.
- Unique made a spectacular jump from 66th place to 6th.
- VGD entered the ranking as a newcomer at 21st place.
- AE Belgium climbed from 62nd place to 26th.
- Bluecrux entered the ranking as a newcomer at 36th place.
- CornerBriX rose from 61st place to 39th.
- SBE entered the ranking as a newcomer at 86th place.
- Bewire, after its first appearance in 2024, returned to the list at 92nd place.
How are the list winner selected?
Behind this recognition lies a rigorous methodology. For more than 30 years, Great Place To Work® has surveyed employees worldwide about their workplace experiences. For the European ranking, more than 1.5 million survey responses were collected, representing the experiences of over 2.4 million employees across Europe. Specifically for the small and medium-sized business category, 260,000 responses from qualifying organisations were analysed.
To be eligible, organisations must be Great Place To Work Certified™, employ between 50 and 499 people in Europe, and already feature on at least one national Best Workplaces™ list.
The ranking is based entirely on confidential employee feedback gathered through the Trust Index™ Survey. Employees respond to 60 statements on a five-point scale and answer two open-ended questions. They evaluate areas including:
- Leadership: accessibility, fair and transparent communication, and keeping promises.
- Respect: recognition, development opportunities, wellbeing support, and opportunities to contribute.
- Fairness: equal treatment regarding pay, promotions, recognition, and the absence of favouritism.
- Pride and camaraderie: pride in individual contributions, pride in the team and organisation, and a positive workplace atmosphere
Outstanding achievements on a European level
Having 8 organisations represented in the European top 100 is an achievement Belgium can be truly proud of. For a relatively small country, Belgium continues to secure a prominent place among Europe’s best workplaces. This year's results reflect the commitment of Belgian organisations to continuously invest in trust, employee engagement and effective leadership.
The impressive rankings, remarkable upward movements and strong performance of several newcomers are no coincidence. They are the result of a sustained focus on creating exceptional employee experiences and workplace cultures where people can thrive. Thanks to this continuous effort, Belgian organisations are not only excelling nationally but are also shining on the European stage. These rankings are a testament to what they prove every day: when people are placed at the heart of the organisation, outstanding results naturally follow.