Happy At Work, Happy companies, Leadership

Yet another cool workplace

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I recently had a chance to visit PEER1 hosting in Southampton in southern England and talk to their CEO Dominic Monkhouse about their culture.

PEER1 does hosting for big web sites and have around 120 employees in the UK. They have a very clear vision for creating customer happiness, and have realized that this is only possible when you have happy employees.

There are many cool aspects of their culture (here’s an excellent video where Dom explains it), but the most visible is how cool their office space is. First of all, it’s on the docks in Southampton with beautiful views over the water – but they’ve also gone out of their way to introduce many great-looking, fun and functional elements.

Here are my photos from a seeeeeriously cool workplace.

This is the lobby and the first thing you see when you enter the office.
This is the lobby and the first thing you see when you enter the office. It’s also where they gather all employees for company-wide meetings.
The slide.
The slide. I tried it. It was awesome.
A game of pool in progress in the middle of the work day.
A game of pool in progress in the middle of the work day.
Great desks. Take up a little more space than the square ones but look a lot cooler.
Great desks. Take up a little more space than the square ones but look a lot cooler.
What UK workplace is complete without its own pub. That's Dom, the CEO, behind the bar.
What UK workplace is complete without its own pub. That’s Dom, the CEO, behind the bar.
The slide. I tried it. It was awesome.
Looking down at the slide.
This is the wall where they celebrate their mistakes.
This is the wall where they celebrate their mistakes.
Wall art made from old server parts.
Wall art made from old server parts.
One of PEER1's values, printed on a swing. Very fitting.
One of PEER1’s values engraved on a swing. Very fitting.
Cool wall.
Cool wall.

4 thoughts on “Yet another cool workplace”

  1. I love this. I think the best part is the “Cock up of the month” wall. It makes employees feel safe to experiment and try things that may work and may not, but need to be tried if they’re going to improve.

  2. Pingback: Dominic Monkhouse-Profile in Real Business | mutterings and rants
  3. Pingback: Southampton Echo visit Peer 1 Hosting in Southampton | mutterings and rants
  4. Pingback: Company to employees: Got an idea? Do it! | The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

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