What do they do? They sell ads in Front, Real Homes, Good Health,
Maximum Mountain Bike, Pro Cycling and a number of contract
publications.
Good offices? As you might expect from a fledgling company. The cramped,
busy office is housed in a dreary 1960s block on Euston Road
(pictured).
What’s it like there? Not as unorthodox as it used to be. Staff are
challenged to take on as much responsibility as they can handle - so
they work their arses off.
Later, they slake their thirsts in local boozers the Fitz ’n’ Firkin and
George & Dragon (sometimes with Front regular Jo Guest) then head on to
Istanbul, a late-night Turkish bar. After-hours drinking at the office
is paid for in contributions of pounds 10 a month to a social fund.
What about perks? A contributory pension scheme is matched up to 5 per
cent of pay. Paternity leave is granted on a trust basis. No company
cars, though.
’Mental health’ days can be used to stay home and nurse hangovers. Staff
are encouraged to take a minimum of five weeks holiday, but they rarely
take more. Free chocolate is distributed on Wednesdays, replaced by
ice-cream in the summer months.
There are regular excursions to chief executive Sally O’Sullivan’s farm
for strategy/bonding sessions and silly games.
Aspiring television stars may appear in a forthcoming BBC
fly-on-the-wall documentary series being filmed in the office.
How does it recruit? By word of mouth - they find it hard to find the
right people. ’We want those who aspire to be the next big thing in
media.’
Is it good at training? In-house training is provided by the group ad
director Debbie Bowman.
How do you get ahead? Feel passionately about the company, be up for it,
crave responsibility and be able to sell across all titles.
