At digital agency 26, staff have had a say in redesigning the place where they work. The company, which has offices in Leeds, Manchester and London, has invested £140,000 in the project. The aim was to improve collaboration spaces.

Not that staff have to come in to the office - it’s not mandatory - but when they do they find an open workplace where, instead of working in silos, they collaborate in cross-functional teams. It means departments interact daily, which improves relationships and communication between colleagues, as well as awareness of other departments’ practices and needs.  

26, whose clients include the NHS, Asda and Fortnum and Mason, says it has an “empowered flexible working environment, which gives choice to the individual”. It has abandoned core working hours so that staff can decide on their daily schedule and where they work.  

The agency, which was rated number one in The Drum’s Elite 30 digital agencies after the 2021 UK Digital Agency census, also invests heavily in staff learning and development, including offering technical training leading to certification for developers. There is a learning platform that gives access to a wide range of courses and staff attend conferences to stay up to date with the latest trends and innovations.

Chief executive Ryan Scott, along with other senior leaders, shares his vision and gives updates on company business at monthly town-hall meetings. The emphasis is on transparency, so that everyone understands what's going on.