Written by Lou Shepherd, Head of Culture & Communications
One of my favourite things to do is to read the comments on our engagement surveys. I can guarantee every time, in answer to the question ‘what makes working here great?’ multiple colleagues will comment – ‘the people’!
At Stowe, we’ve always believed that culture matters. Not just as something we talk about, but something people genuinely feel when they work here – in the support they receive, the relationships they build, and the way we work together every day.
That’s why we’re incredibly proud to have been recognised in the 2026 Sunday Times Best Places to Work list — especially in our very first year of entering.
This achievement is something worth celebrating, not because of the title itself, but because it reflects the experiences, feedback and voices of our colleagues.
Growing with purpose
Over the last few years, Stowe has continued to grow and evolve, welcoming more talented people and expanding our reach across the UK – and beyond. Growth brings exciting opportunities, but it also comes with responsibility.
As we’ve grown and adapted to change, our culture and staying true to our values has remained a constant. Culture is not created by policies or posters on a wall, it’s shaped every day through the way people feel, how they are supported, and whether they feel able to thrive both professionally and personally.
Our values guide how we work, how we support each other and how we show up for our clients. They are central to the decisions we make and the environment we continue to build together.
Listening — and acting on feedback
One of the most important parts of building a positive workplace culture is making sure colleagues feel heard.
Through engagement surveys, colleague forums, or day-to-day conversations, we are committed to creating opportunities for people to share honest feedback and experiences.
But listening is only meaningful if it leads to action.
The feedback we receive helps shape our priorities and informs how we continue to improve the colleague experience across areas such as wellbeing, development, communication, flexibility and recognition. While we’re proud of how far we’ve come, we also know there is always more to learn and more we can do.
Being included in this year’s Best Places to Work list gives us valuable insight into what we’re doing well, while also helping us benchmark ourselves against other leading employers.
A culture built by our people
What makes Stowe special is our people.
Every day, our colleagues bring passion, empathy, expertise and care to the work they do. From supporting clients through some of the most challenging moments in their lives, to supporting one another as teammates and colleagues, there is something really special about the people here.
As Head of Culture, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together, and even more excited about what comes next as we continue to grow while keeping our people, values and culture at the heart of everything we do.
