Engineering Manager • Current Employee
Pros: - Many talented, hard-working, and supportive colleagues who genuinely want to do good work.
- Generally positive peer relationships within teams at the same level.
- Convenient office location and modern facilities.
- Some departments still foster inclusive, collaborative working environments.
Cons: - Leadership decisions are often disjointed, reactive, and poorly communicated. Transparency is limited, leaving staff unsure of direction or rationale. - The office move from Stoke to Manchester, along with recent office attendance mandates, felt rushed and inconsiderate of the impact on staff. - Performance standards and expectations vary widely between teams, creating confusion and perceptions of unfairness. - Favouritism is a recurring issue. Promotions and recognition sometimes go to those in certain circles rather than those consistently performing. - Morale across teams is low due to micromanagement, inconsistent communication, and a lack of genuine engagement from leadership. - There’s a noticeable disconnect between senior leaders and everyday employees — charm and visibility at the top, but little authentic support on the ground. - Over-management and shifting priorities make it difficult for talented people to deliver meaningful work. - Career progression opportunities feel limited, and development conversations are inconsistent or opaque. - Culture has grown increasingly political and cliquey, with internal relationships often outweighing merit. - The company lacks a clear, coherent long-term strategy; too many short-term, ad hoc decisions dominate, which undermines trust and stability. - Representation and inclusivity at senior levels remain weak, which sends the wrong message about the organisation’s commitment to fairness and diversity.