.png)
At Verve, we believe that transformation doesn’t always come from sweeping change - it often starts with small, thoughtful shifts in how we work together on a day-to-day basis.
At Verve, we believe that transformation doesn’t always come from sweeping change - it often starts with small, thoughtful shifts in how we work together on a day-to-day basis.
Throughout 2025, we’ve taken a closer look at how we work as a team - finding ways to make things clearer, support better focus, and create a working experience that actually works for everyone at Verve. This approach has been guided not just by what we think works - but by what our team has told us, through feedback, surveys and honest conversations.
No, we’re not trying our hand at witchcraft. Every six weeks, we clear our calendars and have what we call ‘Focus Pocus’ (the magic of no meetings!). It’s a week where internal recurring meetings are paused, giving people uninterrupted time to focus entirely on their work without the usual switching between jobs and meetings.
The feedback from the team has been resounding - people leave Focus Pocus week feeling more in control, more productive and less mentally cluttered. It’s a real chance to get that job ticked off your list that has been sat on there way too long!
The idea is simple, but the impact has been big. As one team member put it: “It’s the reset I didn’t know I needed. I always finish the week feeling clearer and more on top of things.”
At the start of the year, we launched a new internal comms guide - not just because we love a good PDF, but because our team told us they were feeling overloaded, out of sync and unsure where to find (or share) the information that mattered.
The refresh was about more than tools - it was about giving people clarity. The guide lays out what to use when (Teams? Email? Intranet?) and gives everyone the permission to protect their time - whether that means using Do Not Disturb, saying no to unnecessary meetings, or switching the channel if a chat is turning into an essay.
We also gave our internal intranet a much needed refresh - bringing everything from policies and guides to key updates and company news into a big Verve hub. No more digging through folders or chasing links as everything our team needs is now in one place.
Alongside this, we introduced a weekly round-up that pulls together important updates, Verve wins and useful info - so even when someone’s been away from the office, it’s easy to catch up. The goal was to reduce noise and make things simpler - and from the feedback, it’s doing exactly that. Our team feel less reactive and better connected to what’s going on across Verve.
We’ve always valued time to socialise together outside of work - but this year, we’re building on that in a more intentional way in response to what the team said they wanted more of.
From reworking our annual Sports Day into a full afternoon of team building, to planning shared lunches and casual socials around our Town Halls, we’ve added more opportunities for people to get together in ways that feel natural, not forced.
We also expanded our monthly enrichment sessions, based on feedback from the team. Whether it’s crafting, lunch-and-learns, or just time together doing something a bit different, the focus has been on supporting wellbeing in a way that fits with how people really work (and live).
A big part of our transformation this year has come from one simple thing: listening. And yes, we know that sounds a bit cringe - but it also happens to be true!
After being named one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work in 2024 (in the small business category), we took that recognition as both a celebration and a challenge - to keep growing, keep improving, and keep listening to what our team needs.
Using feedback from last year’s survey, where we scored highly in areas like wellbeing, flexibility and instilling pride - we doubled down on the areas that mattered. And this year, we were thrilled to be recognised again as one of the Best Places to Work 2025 (now as a medium-sized business!).
This recognition means a lot to us, because it’s based entirely on real feedback from our people. And as our founder Cathi Harrison says:
"Being recognised in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work isn’t just an accolade - it’s a reminder that we’re creating a positive environment where our team can thrive alongside the business."
There’s no final destination for us - things are always shifting, whether it’s the industry, the world, or just how our team works day to day. We’ll keep learning and tweaking as we go. So, stick around - there’s always something new on the way!
Here’s what some of the team had to say about the changes:
“Focus Pocus is so valuable. I always get through more than I expect and it clears my head.” – Holly
“The comms guide has made a big difference. It’s given us permission to work in a way that makes sense for us and clear some of the internal chatter that was slowing me down.” – Laura
“I’ve felt more connected this year, even when things are busy. The socials and small touches help more than you’d think.” – Erin
If you like the sound of how we’re working, we’re hiring!
We’re currently looking for a Senior Financial Administrator and a Power BI Agile QA Analyst. If you want to be part of a team where your voice counts, the culture’s real (not just something stuck on a poster), and change is something we all get stuck into – then come join us!
