At Mearns & Gill, we’ve always believed that great work starts with great people, so being named a winner of the Breakthrough Culture Award is a really proud moment for us. Not just because it’s a nice recognition, but because it highlights something we’ve put a lot of time and care into: our culture.

This award is all about putting people first, which has always been central to how we work. It’s a recognition of the empathy, honesty, and integrity we try to bring to every conversation, project, and decision – whether we’re talking to a teammate or a client.

Let’s face it, agency life can be full on. It’s fast-paced, there’s a lot going on, and the pressure can be high. But we’ve never believed that success has to come at the expense of wellbeing. We’ve worked hard to build a place where ambition and kindness sit side by side.

What is the Breakthrough Culture Award?

It recognises companies that are doing culture well – places where people feel supported, valued, and genuinely happy to be part of the team.

What makes this award extra meaningful is how it’s decided. An independent panel reviews each business based on more than just performance. They focus on how people inside the company actually feel about working there.

This year, over 5,000 agencies and marketing companies were considered, with feedback gathered from more than 20,000 employees. So yes, being selected from such a big group is something we’re genuinely proud of.

More importantly, it tells us that what we’ve been building is not only working, but standing out.

So, what does a breakthrough culture look like at M&G?

It starts with people. From the very beginning, we’ve tried to create a space where everyone feels heard, supported, and appreciated – not just for the work they do, but for who they are.

We’re a team that shares ideas, tackles challenges together, and celebrates the small wins, not just the big ones. We’re open and honest with each other, even when things are tough. And we always make time for a laugh.

As we grow, we know things will change. Growth brings exciting opportunities, but it can also feel uncomfortable. That’s why we talk about it openly, rather than pretending it’s all smooth sailing. When we acknowledge the hard stuff, we can work through it together.

How do we keep our culture strong?

It’s not about saying the right things. It’s about actually doing them.

We build in time for regular check-ins – monthly one-to-ones, department meetings, and all-team updates. These are real moments to talk, listen, and reflect.

We hold regular health and wellbeing lunch and learns, so they team can come together and learn new skills to help us face the world.

We also believe recognition should be shared. That’s why we’ve created a team-wide bonus scheme, based on shared goals. When we hit something great, we celebrate it together.

But above all, we want people to feel like they belong here. That means feeling encouraged to do your best work, safe to ask for help, and confident enough to throw out that slightly wild idea that just might work.

Our culture is shaped by our people

Our team is made up of all sorts of personalities – introverts, extroverts, detail-lovers, big thinkers, planners, creatives. (Yes, we’ve even done the “what animal are you?” quiz.)

The one thing we all have in common is that we care. About each other, our work, and the people we work with.

When we hire, we look beyond experience and skills. We look for kindness, curiosity, and a genuine interest in being part of something bigger than yourself. Our interview process is intentionally relaxed and straightforward. And when someone joins us, they meet the whole team early on – not just to learn how we work, but to see the kind of place they’re joining.

Whether you’ve been with us for years or it’s your first week, your voice matters. Your ideas matter. Your growth matters.

What’s next?

Winning the Breakthrough Culture Award is a moment we’re really proud of. But it’s not the end goal. It’s a reminder that culture is something you work on constantly.

We’re proud of what we’ve built so far. And even prouder of the people who make it what it is – creative, supportive, driven, and just genuinely good humans.

If you’re curious about what it’s like to be part of Mearns & Gill, come and say hello.

We’re just getting started.