Pros
- Flexible working hours / wfh, depending on the client. - Sabbatical (although unpaid) after 2 years of service.
Cons
- It's not a consultancy, more of a contract agency, where the project you deliver is in essence an ongoing contract role. - It's very difficult to roll off a project. You very often are stuck for more than 2 years, even if you are not the right fit. - HR / People / Operations need improving. It's a mystery to me what processes they follow. It is common for HR / People / Ops to 'drop in' to a work meeting to address an issue (performance, behaviour, etc.). Or pretend the meeting is about something else, then suddenly lay it on you. Many employees experience that - people talk you know. - Be careful if they try to extend your probation. There's a chance they're in breach of UK law. Happened to me and many others. FYI the probation must be extended within its duration, not after. The probation is automatically passed otherwise, but they will try to extend it anyway. - In general, HR / People / Operations is preying on your lack of knowledge of UK law / fear to challenge them, so be careful. Absolutely do not trust this company. If you think you can share things with them in confidence, don't. They are not your trusted advisor. Always seek legal advice when you feel they are being deceptive or unfair. They most likely are. - Many Glassdoor reviews with 5* posted by HR / People / Ops as part of their campaign to improve company ratings (so I was told by one of their staff) - Top leadership run by a group of chums who promote each other even though most are a waste of space. - Career progression / promotion is very murky. There’s no transparency why someone was promoted or not. There isn't a clear progression process. - Internal training is poor. And there’s no budget for external training. I've been invited to a number of internal leadership trainings, none of which materialised. There is very little investment in employees, even in those marked as leaders/rising stars. - Pay increase is sooo bad when you progress internally! You are given a mere 5% increase when promoted. If your starting salary is low already, you’re in for a massive disappointment. They will not match your salary to the market rate. - Virtually no pay increase and no bonus (none in the past 3-4 years I believe). - Dreadful London office (one room with not enough desks, no monitors, one meeting room with no door handle, not enough permanent passes for everyone). - During the time I’ve been here, BIP / Chaucer were in breach of my contract a number of times; haven't provided me with any decent external training (no budget they say); promises of specialised internal training never materialised; I've been stuck on projects for more than 2 years that I couldn't roll off; have seen new joiners stuck on the bench for months only to be fired after no support was given to get on a project. - Truly, I'd only recommend BIP (Chaucer) as a stepping stone to get into a better consultancy. Otherwise they'll grind you down to the point you have neither the energy nor confidence to leave.
