Zen Internet awarded UK’s Best Workplaces recognition

Photo: Rochdale Online

Zen Internet's HQ at Sandbrook House in Rochdale

Rochdale internet provider Zen has been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces by Great Place to Work, the global authority on workplace culture.

Placing 37th out of 67 companies in the large business category (251 – 1,000 employees), Zen, the only Which? Recommended Provider for Broadband, emphasises its people-centric business, pioneering the belief that the happiness and wellbeing of its people should come before profit. Zen Internet’s founder and chairman, Richard Tang, recalls having received many compliments on the company’s working environment from its 500-strong workforce, with one recently noting the boomerang effect of having left Zen and later returning.

Richard recalled this employee saying: “It’s safe to say I missed Zen a lot more than I was expecting; it’s good to be back.”

Being part of the B Corp community, Zen has also made a legal commitment to consider the impact of decisions on workers, customers, suppliers, community and the environment. Certified B Corporations are a new kind of business that balance both purpose and profit.

Zen’s people and culture director, Ayshea Robertson, said: “A business’ workforce is everything, and in a post-pandemic landscape, this is especially notable.

“With continually shifting employee priorities and ‘The Great Resignation’, fostering a people-focused culture has never been more imperative when recruiting and creating a loyal and engaged workforce.

“Providing flexibility, prioritising employee engagement, and focusing on mental health and wellbeing are at the core of what we do at Zen. We’re incredibly proud of our people, and this recognition by Great Place to Work is further testament to our people.”

Benedict Gautrey, managing director of Great Place to Work UK, said: “We’re incredibly proud to recognise the 290 companies on our list for their outstanding workplace cultures, and unwavering commitment to supporting employees so they can deliver the best strategic solutions to ever-changing business opportunities and challenges.”

To determine the 2022 UK's Best Workplaces list, Great Place to Work performed rigorous evaluations of hundreds of employee survey responses alongside culture audit submissions from leaders at each company.

They then used these data insights to benchmark the effectiveness of companies' employee value propositions against the culture their employees actually experience.

Those businesses who achieve the highest scores after evaluation receive Best Workplaces status.