A Culture of Learning
Here at Skyrise, we're passionate about cultivating a workplace where growth and learning are central to our culture. This commitment has been recognised again in 2025 with nominations in the UK Company Culture Awards, and we couldn't be prouder!
A Space for Open Conversations
One of our initiatives, ‘Coffee and Conversations’, exemplifies our dedication to creating a supportive environment. It's a company-wide program that creates a safe space for our team to engage in open and honest discussions about mental health and wellbeing. These sessions are designed to encourage empathy, respect, and active listening, ensuring everyone feels heard, valued, and supported.
The topics covered in Coffee and Conversations are diverse and relevant, ranging from burnout and resilience to positive masculinity and suicide prevention. And the conversations have had a significant impact. 98% of our team have attended a session, with 80% reporting a positive impact on their mental health. Team members feel more comfortable checking in on each other, and there's a greater sense of openness and psychological safety. As one team member put it,
"Coffee and Conversations has been a fantastic initiative, our Culture Lead Sam has created a safe and open space to discuss important topics like mental health, male toxicity, and inclusivity. These sessions encourage honest dialogue, deepen understanding, and help foster a more supportive and inclusive workplace.”
Challenging the norm
One area where our commitment to learning and growth has truly shone is in our work around challenging traditional norms, particularly in the realm of masculinity. Our work in this area was recently featured in a Marketing Week article with our CEO, Paul Barnard who said:
“Adopting this approach of championing positive masculinity comes as part of a broader strategy of investing in our people, and this has been a core value since our inception.”
“Investing in our people has grown the business massively. We are the biggest we’ve ever been [in terms of headcount] in our 13 years of existence.”
Alongside Sam Sharwin, this has been spearheaded by the insightful work of Jake Li, our Trading Team Lead. Jake has been actively exploring and challenging what it means to be a man in today's world, recently participating in the Hard as Nails initiative. This thoughtful and progressive approach not only enriches our internal culture but has also resonated externally, leading to well-deserved recognition for Jake with a nomination in the Leadership category at the UK Company Culture Awards.
Jake's leadership exemplifies our broader cultural ethos: to be real, to challenge assumptions, and to learn and evolve together. It’s about creating a space where everyone feels empowered to bring their whole selves to work, fostering a richer, more empathetic, and ultimately more innovative environment.
The Culture Hub: A Central Resource for Growth
As well as Coffee and Conversations, we've developed the Skyrise Culture Hub; a living, evolving resource that supports an inclusive, informed, and empowered workplace. The Hub is packed with practical guides, tools, and insights on a variety of topics, including:
- Skyrise Guides: Covering compassionate leadership, inclusive language, and professional boundaries
- Conversations Series: Offering tips on how to approach sensitive topics like mental health and grief
- Inclusion Guides: Promoting inclusive communications and events
The Culture Hub is designed to be accessible and user-friendly, providing a central place for guidance, support, and learning. It has been widely accessed and positively received, with 98% of employees using it and 100% saying it has contributed to a more inclusive and supportive workplace.
As one employee shared, "The Culture Hub is a game-changer! It's a one-stop resource where employees can easily find information, handy tips and clear guidance on all culture initiatives. Whether it's inclusion, bystander intervention or wellness activities, everything is in one place, clear, accessible, and always up to date."
Looking Ahead - What’s Next?
We're incredibly proud of the culture we're building at Skyrise. Our learning initiatives like Coffee and Conversations and the Culture Hub demonstrate our commitment to continuous learning, and also to open communication, and employee wellbeing. We believe that by investing in our people and providing our team with the resources and support they need, we can create a truly exceptional workplace.
Skyrise culture is the envy of our industry. We keep winning awards that prove it. Our cultural excellence propels our business excellence. It’s how we build an extraordinarily successful company that is changing the media landscape.
If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a Skyriser and can help us find new ways to rise together, check out our careers page.