Find where you thrive

Last week we brought together leaders from across business, infrastructure, education and government for our Skills for a Thriving East event. The East of England is growing fast, with major investment and ambition across the region. But growth only works if we have the right skills, in the right places, at the right time. From the speakers to the breakout sessions, the event was about getting practical, sharing what’s working, being honest about what isn’t, and looking at how we close the gap between growth ambitions and the skills needed to deliver them. What came through clearly was the value of partners learning together: employers, educators, infrastructure organisations and government all seeing the system from different angles but committed to the same outcome – wider opportunity and a skills pipeline that works for people and places across the East. The challenge now is building on this momentum and turning shared intent into tangible action. More to come as this work continues.

We're all about squiggly careers over here, which is why we couldn't wait to catch up with Kiki who is now a Business Intelligence Analyst with us. Take a listen to hear how Kiki's career with us has developed over the years.

Gearset has been shortlisted for three categories at the 2026 UK Company Culture Awards 🎉 🏆 Best Employee Led Initiative 🏆 Most Innovative Culture 🏆 Best Company to Work For This one really comes down to the people here. Culture isn’t something you set once and forget, it’s built in the small things the team does every day and we’re really excited to see that recognised! Wish us luck! 🍀

Last week, we headed up to London for the Flexa Awards - and we’re still smiling about it! We’ve only been on the platform for less than six months, so to already be shortlisted felt pretty special. Even better, we made the top 10 for ‘Most Family Friendly Company’. Creating a genuinely flexible, family-friendly environment has always mattered to us - so it’s great to see that recognised. A really proud moment for the team!

Still taking this one in… 🤩🏆 Last week, our team had the pleasure of attending the 2026 Flexa Awards, and we’re proud to share that we walked away with two wins: 🥇 #1 Most Flexible Company 🌟 Top 5 for Best Work-Life Balance These awards are a direct reflection of our people. The way our team embraces flexibility and supports one another is what makes our culture so special. It’s a huge moment for us, and one that wouldn’t be possible without the collective effort behind the scenes 💙

A career change in your 30s, with a mortgage to think about? For Rumana Akthair, it was the best decision she ever made. After building a career across mental health, community development and local government, Rumana joined Virgin Media O2 as an apprentice, retraining into information security with support, stability and confidence to do it properly. Today, she's an Information Security Manager, protection our systems and helping keep millions connected. At Virgin Media O2, our apprenticeships aren't just for school leavers. We offer permanent contracts, competitive salaries and a genuinely inclusive culture that values transferable skills, lived experience and potential, whatever the age. Read more of Rumana's story in the press here: https://www.pressreader.com/uk/daily-mirror/20260311/282372636115731

Bristol Careers Open Day 📅       Friday 15th May 2026 ⏱️       16:00 - 19:00 (last entry 18:45) 📍       3 Golf Course Ln, Bristol BS34 7QS  We invite you to come talk to us about current opportunities and future career prospects at MBDA Bristol (Filton). The Careers Open Day is your chance to learn more about our company, our culture, and the exciting opportunities we have to offer across: - Engineering - Software - Project Management - Early Careers Programmes ... and much more! Find out more about the event and register at: https://www.mbdacareers.co.uk/our-stories/bristol-careers-day-15th-May-2026

We had an absolute blast last week at the annual Flexa Awards 🥳. The best part was that out of 100 companies, we got double recognition. 🥉3rd place for Best Employee Wellbeing 🥉3rd place for Best Work-life Balance This means a lot as we're incredibly proud of the way we support our people. 👶 Industry-leading family leave: 26 weeks paid maternity/adoption, 14 weeks paid paternity and 12 weeks neonatal leave ❤️💙Health & wellbeing support: including private healthcare and mental health support ✨Inclusive support: neurodiversity assessments and menopause support 🌿Flexible time that matters: annual leave, birthday off, volunteering days, carers' leave and emergency leave These are all some of the things we offer at Virgin Media O2 and part of the culture we're building. One where people can truly thrive. Check out our profile to see everything we have to offer.

WE'RE IN THE TOP 10!  We're delighted to have been placed in the Top 10 on  Flexa 's "Most Mission-Driven Company" list 2026! 💜🐑 #TheFlexaAwards2026