What It Really Takes to Build One of the UK's Best Places to Work

Culture isn't an initiative, it’s how you operate

Organisations often talk about culture as though it's separate from the business itself. I don't see it that way.

At IDX, culture is embedded in how we work. It influences how we collaborate, how we solve problems, how we communicate and how we support one another.

One of the things I'm most proud of is the balance we've created between ambition and humanity. We set high expectations because our clients deserve exceptional outcomes. At the same time, we recognise that sustainable performance depends on creating an environment where people feel trusted, supported and connected to something bigger than themselves.

Performance and purpose aren't competing priorities. They reinforce one another.

Living our values every day

Our client promise has always centered around being Advised, Available and Accountable.

Although those principles were originally designed to describe how we serve clients, they also shape the employee experience.

• Advised means sharing expertise generously and helping colleagues succeed.

• Available means making time for one another because collaboration rarely happens by accident.

• Accountable means taking ownership, following through on commitments and building trust across teams.

Those aren't slogans displayed on a wall. They're behaviours we try to demonstrate every day, and they're a significant reason why people feel confident relying on one another across the business.

Staying connected as we grow

Growth creates opportunity, but it also creates new challenges.

As organisations become larger, maintaining transparency and connection requires intention. That's one reason our Weekly Stand Up has become such an important part of life at IDX.

Every week we bring the business together to share updates, celebrate work anniversaries, recognise outstanding contributions and discuss topics that matter to our people. It's a space where colleagues hear directly from across the organisation, understand our priorities and stay connected regardless of where they work or which team they belong to.

Over time, this meeting has helped strengthen transparency, increase visibility across teams and create regular opportunities to celebrate achievements that might otherwise go unnoticed. Those moments build relationships and reinforce that every contribution matters.

Creating space for real conversations

One aspect of our culture that I'm particularly proud of is our willingness to discuss topics that aren't always talked about openly at work.

Over the past year we've raised awareness around subjects including IVF, men's mental health, Pride Month and Black History Month, often giving colleagues the opportunity to share their own experiences through internal discussions and video content.

Work and life are no longer separate experiences.

People shouldn't feel they have to leave important parts of themselves at the door every morning. By encouraging honest conversations, reducing stigma and equipping leaders to respond with empathy, we create an environment where people feel respected, supported and able to perform at their best.

Listening is only the first step

Creating a great workplace also means listening continuously.

Our annual People Pulse survey, regular one-to-one conversations and day-to-day interactions all give colleagues opportunities to shape the future of the business.

Just as importantly, we don't stop at collecting feedback. We communicate what we've heard, identify priorities and act on them.

One example came as IDX continued to grow. Our people told us they wanted greater visibility into business priorities, leadership decisions and achievements happening across the company.

In response, we strengthened our Weekly Stand Up, expanded leadership communications through a weekly CEO newsletter and introduced our global Hidden Heroes recognition program, celebrating colleagues who consistently go above and beyond, whether their contributions happen in front of clients or behind the scenes. We also hosted a companywide Town Hall to share a full company business update.

Recognition is about more than creating awards. It's about making sure people know their work matters.

Investing in the future

Culture is also shaped by the opportunities people have to grow. That's why we introduced our Graduate Programme in 2025.

The goal wasn't simply to recruit talented graduates. It was to invest in the future of the business by providing structured development, mentorship and meaningful experience from day one.

We want emerging professionals to build long-term careers here, supported by leaders who are genuinely invested in their success.

That same philosophy extends across every stage of someone's career. Development shouldn't stop after onboarding. Great organisations continue creating opportunities for people to learn, contribute and take on new challenges throughout their career.

Flexibility built on trust

Hybrid working has become commonplace, but making it successful requires more than allowing people to work from home.

For us, flexibility is built on trust and clarity.

We focus on outcomes rather than location while creating intentional opportunities for colleagues to connect through team meetings, company-wide events and regular communication.

That balance gives people the flexibility they value while preserving the collaboration and relationships that define our culture.

Looking ahead at IDX

When we described ourselves as "scaling forward" during the Best Places to Work application process, we chose those words carefully.

We're continuing to invest in our people, our technology and our future rather than standing still.

The recognition from “The Sunday Times” is something we're incredibly proud of, but it's also motivation to keep improving.

If someone asked me what it's really like to work at IDX, I'd tell them this.

You'll work alongside talented people who care deeply about delivering great work and helping one another succeed. You'll be challenged. You'll have opportunities to grow. Your ideas will be welcomed.

Most importantly, you'll join an organization that believes its people are its greatest strength and works every day to ensure they feel valued, included and proud to be part of the journey.

That's what this recognition celebrates. More importantly, that's the culture we'll continue building together as we’ve rolled out Destination 250, a strategic three-year plan focused on putting customers first while actively growing the global IDX team by 250 employees.

Connect with IDX to explore career opportunities.