Following the announcement that SE10 has been recognised with a Hyer Culture Award we asked our team for their thoughts on why we won. After all, it’s an award that was secured by our whole team with anonymous surveys making up just one step of the rigorous judging process.
When asked what an award-winning culture means, London-based associate director, Hannah Kitchener shared: “A great culture is one where people feel free to be themselves, treated with respect and understanding. It’s about being encouraged and empowered to reach your potential while being inspired by the ideas and achievements of those around you. Diversity of thought is celebrated, sparking creativity and driving better results as a team.”
Hannah concluded that collaboration and care are crucial to building a culture that lasts. “It’s about knowing your colleagues have your back during tough times and celebrating successes together. It’s about working alongside people you genuinely enjoy spending time with, sharing laughter as well as hard work. This sense of belonging fosters an environment where everyone feels valued and motivated to achieve great things collectively.”
Open communication and adaptability
London-based account manager Jack Porter had some further thoughts on what a great culture means, sharing that for him, a great culture is all about being open to expressing opinions and being considerate of others.
“There needs to be an open arena to share and debate, but with an understood alignment in collective purpose. A workplace environment that promotes a strong culture should be welcoming of all backgrounds and actively create a workforce of individual skillsets, of employees who are receptive to constructive criticism and willing to encourage their colleagues,” he said. “Fundamentally, this culture should also be flexible and willing to change and adapt. Remaining rigid means stagnation, and there should be active awareness of discovering avenues towards improvement. The work should also be diverse, and successes highlighted, regardless of size and significance.”
Our CEO Ben Shaw gave some thoughts on why SE10 has been ranked as one of the top 100 companies with a great culture and, for him, it starts all the way back in 2020 when the company was forced to rethink due to the pandemic. “It was a tough period for the business (as it was for all businesses) and it required a lot of adjustment,” he said. “We moved to a fully remote structure, and everyone had to change their approach to work.”
But there were glimmers of hope amongst the challenges. “Looking back now, I can see that it also really brought us all closer together and taught us more about who we are and how we want to work with our clients, suppliers and partners,” he continued.
Trust and community
Furthering those thoughts, Hannah Kitchener commented that leadership is integral to this win. “Our CEO fosters a culture of trust, giving us the freedom to manage accounts how we see fit, experiment with new ideas, and work flexibly in ways that suit us best. Every voice is heard, and every opinion is valued,” she said.
Hannah also shared that she feels fortunate working alongside colleagues who are not just teammates but friends who genuinely care for and support one another on both professional and personal levels, making SE10 a truly special place to be.
Flexibility and kindness
London-based account director Rosie Hopkins shared that the culture at SE10 has been instrumental in her decision to work and stay at SE10.
“The working model is very flexible, we are encouraged to work from wherever feels most comfortable to us. We are empowered to do our best work, and all opinions are valid and considered. We are very well respected, and this encourages excellent work and a great care and investment in the business and our clients,” she said.
Hannah added: “At SE10, there’s a deep appreciation for the fact that we’re not PR machines, rather human beings with lives full of ups and downs. This understanding creates a culture that celebrates life’s joyful moments while offering unwavering support during tougher times. During challenging personal moments, colleagues consistently step up with kindness and practical help — whether simply offering a listening ear or taking on some of our tasks to help manage workloads. It’s in these moments of genuine care and understanding that I believe SE10’s culture truly shines, turning a workplace into a supportive community.
“I’m so proud that we’ve won this recognition, but even more proud to work with such a wonderful group of people,” Ben concluded.
Visit our careers page to learn more about working at SE10.
Rosie Hopkins
Account Director
About the author
Rosie is an account director at SE10 based out of the London office. She has over a decade of PR experience that spans agency and in-house communications roles across London and Singapore. She uses her experience to help clients strategise and deliver on PR campaigns across the globe.
