David Lloyd Leisure has been named number 21 in the Sunday Times’ Top 30 Best Big Companies to Work For in 2017.

 The company is a new entrant to the UK list, which covered businesses that employ 3,000-plus members of staff. It achieved a high engagement score on the Best Companies’ survey, which was completed by a random sample of David Lloyd teams.

The firm, which employs 6,200 people across its 83 UK clubs, announced this month that it is set to grow to 99 with the purchase of 16 Virgin Active sites.

 The accreditation comes on the back of a £120m (US$149.2m, €140.7m) investment over the last two years, made by private equity company TDR, which acquired the company in 2013, to refurbish and develop its existing sites, as well as construct five new clubs in Newbury, Rouken Glen (Glasgow) and Colchester, plus Antwerp in Belgium and Aravaca in Madrid.

Glenn Earlam, David Lloyd Leisure chief executive, said: “We are particularly thrilled to be named as one of the Best Big Companies to work for in the UK, since it is our teams themselves who were consulted about how they feel to be part of our thriving business.

 “I’m very proud to hear that our team feel so happy, engaged and valued. Their passion and dedication means that our members experience the very best service from us, and I’d like to thank each and every one of them for their hard work.”

The top three companies in the top 30 list were car retailer Sytner Group, followed by motor insurer Admiral Group and Telecommunications company EE.

Budget health club operator Pure Gym made the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the mid-size category (250-3,000 employees), making it to 91.