Pros: • Engineering standards are generally strong across many teams, with good use of modern tools and practices. • Kotlin usage is a genuine strength and a good environment for writing clean, expressive code. • Engineers are trusted with real responsibility and exposure to production systems early on (mostly). • Flexible working arrangements and reasonable benefits are offered. The office space is genuinely nice and well designed. There are a handful of genuinely capable, supportive individuals who care about quality and team health.

Cons: • Product direction and differentiation feel unclear, and the company’s USP appears to be losing footing in a competitive market. The product could be significantly stronger. • A strong MVP-driven culture often prioritises speed over quality, leading to technical debt and rework. • The environment can feel very sink-or-swim, particularly for junior engineers and associates. • While there are positive EDI initiatives (e.g. Code First Girls, associate intakes), ongoing support, mentorship, and structured guidance are often lacking. Capable juniors can lose confidence or momentum if they land in weaker teams. • There is noticeable variance in capability and behaviour at senior levels. Some senior engineers exhibit strong egos that are not always matched by fundamentals, technical depth, or effective leadership, which can create friction and limit learning for others. • Team experience varies widely depending on leadership and resourcing; inconsistent management coverage can leave individuals carrying significant responsibility without adequate support or advocacy. • There can be moments of subtle sexism or bias across the organisation, which are not always addressed directly and can impact psychological safety, particularly for women in technical roles. • Career progression and recognition can feel opaque, especially for senior & mid-level engineers operating beyond their formal scope.

Pros: There are nice people with diverse backgrounds. Many young people are here.

Cons: Management can put too much pressure. Some older employees dictate architecture and micromanage. There is no room to improve processes as a new person. They bring people from non-CS backgrounds and train them - which is amazing - but then they will often not promote them and give them the opportunities and salary they deserve.

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.