Zen Internet earns third Great Place To Work title

Zen Internet has secured Great Place To Work certification for 2025, marking the third time the Rochdale-based broadband and communications provider has earned the workplace culture accreditation.

The certification follows feedback from Zen employees. The company said 85 per cent of staff described Zen as a great place to work in the latest survey.

Great Place To Work is a global consultancy that assesses workplace culture and employee experience across industries. Its certification relies on anonymous employee feedback and an analysis of organisational practices.

Zen previously received Great Place To Work recognition in 2021 and 2023. The firm runs biennial employee engagement surveys that underpin the assessment.

Global benchmark

Great Place To Work describes itself as the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience and leadership behaviours that drive business performance. Its methodology underpins a series of national and international best workplace lists.

Commenting on Zen's latest certification, Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work, said the process demands sustained focus on staff experience.

"Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience," said Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasises that certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. "By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Zen Internet stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees."

The certification adds to a series of workforce-related accolades for Zen. The company has positioned its culture and people policies as a differentiator in the UK telecoms and technology market, alongside its independent ownership and B Corp status.

People strategy

Zen said the latest recognition reflects a multi-year focus on staff development, organisational values and working environment. The company has opened a new office space at its Rochdale headquarters and has launched a people and learning platform.

Maxine Blackwell, People & Culture Director at Zen, said the award reflects employee sentiment inside the business.

"We are thrilled to be Great Place To Work-Certified once again!" said Maxine Blackwell, People & Culture Director at Zen. "This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the real experiences of our people.

"Over the past year, we've continued to invest in creating an environment where our people can thrive, from launching our new people and learning platform, embedding our company values, to creating a brand-new office space designed to encourage greater collaboration and engagement. Knowing that our people feel supported, empowered, and connected reinforces that we're moving in the right direction. When our people have a high trust experience every day, they're more productive, deliver better results, and make an even bigger difference to our customers," said Blackwell.

Zen highlighted staff feedback from recent internal surveys. Employees referenced a sense of inclusion, leadership approach and the firm's emphasis on culture.

One employee said: "Zen as a whole is a brilliant company to work for, everybody is treated like they mean something."

Another employee said: "Very inclusive and so many support groups for varying things. And the celebrations of people and diversity."

Other staff described the organisation as people-led. One comment said: "A fantastic company to work for - it is truly a People First organisation, with its culture and approach."

Another testimonial focused on management. "The hands-on and inclusive approach to leadership helps reinforce our company culture, making it clear that we are all integral to the success of our mission."

Telecoms operator

Zen operates as an independent UK telecoms and technology provider. The business supplies broadband, voice, hosting, cloud and security services to residential and business customers across the country.

The company employs more than 600 people, with its main base in Rochdale. It has stated that it prioritises long-term goals and a people-centric approach over short-term financial gains.

Zen holds B Corp certification, which assesses a company's social and environmental performance, transparency and governance. The business has also received industry recognition for its broadband services, including consumer awards from Which? and PC Pro over multiple years.

Great Place To Work conducts research into organisational culture and runs a proprietary survey platform. It uses its "For All Model" to evaluate the experiences of employees across demographics and job roles, and recognises organisations through certification and inclusion on best workplace lists.

Zen indicated that it will continue to develop its employee offering as it grows its telecoms and technology services. The company said it plans further work on culture, leadership and workplace design alongside ongoing investment in customer services and network products.