“The More Diverse the Team, the More Able We Are to Understand Our Clients Needs”

Blacklist’s list of awards keeps growing and growing - and not just for its exceptional achievement in the realm of creativity. The full service creative agency was certified as one of the best companies to work for in the UK by Great Place To Work (GPTW) and it was also named one of the UK's Best Workplaces for Women 2023, in the ‘small company’ category. 

Lola Gamester, co-owner and joint MD at Blacklist, says that she was the only woman when the company was founded a few years ago though “even then it never felt anything other than totally inclusive,” she notes. Today, Blacklist’s gender stats look pretty impressive; 56% of employees are women, 61% of women employees occupy a manager or above position, and the senior leadership team is 55% women. This is no accident as Blacklist is actively building a nurturing workplace environment that’s open and inclusive to all, it’s “the core of who we are at Blacklist and has been from day one,” adds Lola. 

The award specifically recognises Blacklist’s efforts in three key areas of the business. The first is talent and development, with all employees having equal opportunity for career progression and personal development. “We want to create a culture where every individual, of any gender, feels valued and free to develop themselves in ways that suit their learning preferences and vision of the future.” 

The second is pay and benefits. “Research indicates that women are particularly vulnerable to economic shocks and financial instability. Blacklist regularly reviews compensation packages and continuously benchmarks our rewards offerings to remain competitive in the market and promote gender equity at work. Amidst the cost-of-living crisis, we offered pay rises and access to support such as financial advisors,” Lola explains. 

The third is paying attention to workload stress, which often goes unsaid in the creative industry. “Creating a kind and respectful work environment is essential for alleviating burnout and promoting wellbeing. We champion the importance of treating one another with respect, avoiding the temptation to take out stress on colleagues, and viewing unmet targets as opportunities for reflection rather than blame.”

Kate Els, creative services director, says she “loves that there is no gatekeeping on opportunities and, as women, we are encouraged to step into responsibilities and projects that we know we can succeed in.”

Far from inspirational words on a page, Blacklist ensures that these principles are tangibly reflected in what it offers to staff. There are flexible working hours for all, an internship scheme, and a focus on recruitment from within. Blacklist is also a recent signatory of The Maternity Pledge which recognises the physical and psychological changes a person goes through during pregnancy and birth and aims to empower workplaces to best support the employees during and after pregnancy. “Personally, I felt super supported by Blacklist during my pregnancy and leading up to my maternity leave. I always thought that at some point I may have to choose between my career and becoming a mum/family life. BL has created an environment in which you can be both which I feel is very empowering,” says Femke Westerhof, general manager of Blacklist Amsterdam. 

Lola also draws attention to the statistic that 60% of women leave their jobs after they return from maternity leave; retaining people should be a business priority as recruitment can cost well into thousands of pounds, depending on the role that’s being recruited for. 

To Blacklist, focusing on how to make the workplace better for women ultimately means that the workplace is better for everyone since all staff can benefit from an approach that considers their individual needs and circumstances when designing a welcoming and nurturing environment. 

Then there are the business benefits too. “The more diverse the team, the more able we are to understand our clients needs and speak authentically to their audiences. We are in the business of reflecting the world we live in, we will only do half a job if we only see half a reflection. More equal gender representation results in a thriving business that harnesses the creativity, productivity and profitability that inevitably comes with being an inclusive, innovative, diverse, and supportive workplace for all,” states Lola while quoting research findings from GPTW. 

Getting recognised for the culture it has built doesn’t mean that Blacklist is about to get complacent. Instead, this award is a chapter in the story it’s writing with all its staff as it looks to continually question, develop and iterate on the successes already under its belt.