BEST PLACES TO WORK

Summary:

Founding partner Fraser Hardie says he wants Blue Rubicon to be ‘the defining PR agency of this decade’ and at this rate, he’ll achieve it. Staff enjoy an off-the-scale training budget, an enviable list of benefits and a culture built around learning, development, knowledge sharing and the nurturing of first-class talent. As a testimony to the firm’s commitment to developing employees, in 2008 25 per cent of staff were promoted, and it received more than 1,000 applications to its graduate scheme despite shunning traditional advertising. The agency was ranked number 18 in The Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For 2009, making it the highest ranking PR agency.

Benefits:

Flexible hours, working from home, private healthcare, free gym membership, bonuses, sabbaticals and career breaks, flexible benefits package, share ownership in the company, pensions, critical illness cover, life assurance, finders fee, awards scheme, £200 for all staff towards the cost of well-being, cycle to work scheme.

Training and development:

Blue Rubicon uses external training courses run by industry bodies but prefers to keep the majority of its training in-house. Weekly knowledge-sharing sessions run over lunches and drinks, mixing formal learning with informal socialising. All staff members have an annual training plan broken into internal and external training, and workshop sessions. Junior staff members including graduates and account executives follow a dedicated training programme tailored to that level. Blue Rubicon’s training and development is so strong the agency won a special award in The Sunday Times 100 Best Small Companies to Work For 2009.

Work/life balance:

The agency supports genuine flexibility on hours and both part-time and home working. Staff are permitted to start early to finish early, take a longer lunch break and work late to compensate, or finish earlier if they worked late the day before. There are no limits to staff working from home as long as it fits in with clients needs, although staff are asked to give 24 hours notice where possible. Blue Rubicon also actively helps employees work from home, providing mobile wireless cards for those who need them. Around 10 per cent of staff work part time, and the agency has also set up a network to support working parents which incorporates informal meetings, networking and a buddy system.

Graduate recruitment and new joiners:

Blue Rubicon recruits graduates who follow a tailored programme. New joiners are also given a formal induction and paired with a more established member of staff who acts as a mentor to them. After 12 weeks in the job, new joiners are asked to write a report on their experiences, giving the agency feedback into any potential areas for improvement.