The importance of relationships

I've been involved in running creative agencies for over 20 years, and during that time it's become clear that the human touch is what truly makes the difference to how people feel and perceive their time ‘at work’. Making somewhere a great place to work isn’t about free breakfast pastries, table football and slides (though I'm pretty sure they don't hurt!); it's about relationships. Not just those with your immediate colleagues, but those with your clients, your collaborators and suppliers. If you invest in those, work becomes a much more enjoyable place to spend time.

Team
Our team isn't just a group of colleagues; it’s a mini family – and the bedrock of any family is trust. We place our faith in our team members’ skills, judgement and dedication to seeing things through properly. We aim to nurture an environment of open communication, where every voice matters, so ideas can be born and collaborations thrive.

Clients
Simply put, without clients we have no business. But life is too short to spend it working with people you don't get on with. So we put a lot of time making sure we're on the same page. It should be fun and collaborative, not a conflict or riddled with constant compromise. So the trust placed in us needs to underpin all we do. If a client can rely on us, we generate results and they enjoy the process, we're on the way to moving from a service provider to a creative partner.

Collaborators
Whether we're talking about a PR specialist, fellow agency, artist or consultant, bringing new skills and ideas to the table is never a bad idea. Respect forms the foundation of these relationships. We respect each other’s expertise but welcome the curiosity and spark that comes from fresh perspectives. Listening is one of the most important things we can do.

Suppliers
Make sh*t happen. An overused phrase on many an Etsy poster, but without high-quality suppliers to provide the materials, workmanship or tools to bring our creative visions to life we'd be completely lost. Reliability is paramount. We look for the same reliability from our suppliers as we aim to give our team and clients. And in turn, they look for that from us. Good supplier relationships are a two-way street.

Committing to openness, trust and a common vision in all our connections fosters a creative environment; and I'm looking forward to the next 20 years and what these relationships might bring.