HOLY Cross College has been recognised again as one of the best small companies to work for in the UK.

The Ofsted grade 1-listed college, which has 192 members of staff and 1,700 students, was ranked 35th in the table, which is compiled by the Sunday Times newspaper, compared with 21st last year and 24th in 2006.

The Sunday Times report said: "There is a strong sense of job security and a feeling of family. There are solid benefits and a sense that the work is stimulating.

"Most staff members have performance-related pay and there is a free gym as well as fitness classes, badminton and football clubs, subsidised reflexology and Indian head massage.

"The college accommodates people's needs for flexible working, offering job shares and reduced or compressed hours, and with laptops loaned for home working."

In February, the college, on Manchester Road, got top marks in the annual Best Employers in the North West survey.