Pros
The brand has undeniable global prestige, and the scale of the live broadcast operation is impressive. For those early in their career or seeking exposure to large-scale infrastructure, it can be a valuable credential. It’s also worth acknowledging that during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company continued to support some non-permanent staff financially, which was both appreciated and rare within the industry.
Cons
While the brand suggests operational excellence, the working environment didn’t reflect that in practice. Communication around roles and expectations was limited, and there was little onboarding or day-to-day engagement from team leads. Despite expressing a willingness to get involved and contribute, it was difficult to find meaningful opportunities to do so. This created an environment that felt more observational than collaborative. There was also a lack of clear communication around scheduling. Overtime or extended hours were sometimes expected at the last minute with little or no prior notice. While flexibility is often part of live broadcast work, the absence of proper planning or consideration made it difficult to manage time or external commitments reliably. The culture leaned heavily on hierarchy and defensiveness. Feedback—even when calmly and constructively offered—was not encouraged. Some senior team members displayed erratic or confrontational behavior that went unaddressed. A notable example was an internal email reprimanding staff over litter (including sweet wrappers and an ice cream stick), where management referred to photos submitted by employees as evidence. The tone of the message emphasized blame rather than teamwork or shared responsibility. It was such a petty issue that did not warrant encouraging staff to spy on each other with photos. A disconnect also existed between the company’s visual branding and its actual culture. Slogans like “We Are One Team” were visible throughout the building, but in practice, collaboration felt limited, communication guarded, and inclusion selective. These values appeared to exist more in messaging than in the lived day-to-day environment. Additionally, the pre-employment screening process raised concerns. The external vetting agency requested screenshots of private HMRC tax account information via email—a practice I’ve never encountered elsewhere. It felt excessive and intrusive, especially given the type of role.