We’re exceptionally proud to have a new home in London’s infamous Old Street. After vastly outgrowing our modest 20-person space at the end of 2018, the Qudini team made the move to our swanky new offices earlier this year – and we feel very fortunate to have found somewhere that not only reflects who we are as a business, but also reflects Qudini’s lifestyle and ENERGY.
There’s always a lot happening at our new Qudini HQ. Our team are constantly busy brainstorming brilliant new ideas, we have clients, partners and prospects coming in and out, and we have numerous social and work events keeping us entertained.
Passion brings us together; collaboration keeps us together
While we might be a fast-growing tech start-up (or scale-up) that’s only a stone’s throw from the so-called Silicon Roundabout or East London Tech City, our team knows that there’s a lot more that goes into revolutionising customer experiences in the retail market than a trendy location.
One of the most important factors is PASSION. We’re big believers in the High Street, and are incredibly passionate about creating powerful in-store experiences that customers love. And, as a forward-thinking tech company, it’s crucial that COLLABORATION is ingrained into each and every step we take. That’s why when we were choosing our new offices, we deliberately found a place that encourages collaboration and enables us to work well together.
Making our new offices agile-friendly
Data is a big part of who we are as a business, and we’re big believers in capturing valuable INSIGHTS on a regular basis, which is why we have whiteboards and screens spread across our walls to showcase key facts and figures, from client updates to development projects, to upcoming sprints – we map it all!
We also have whiteboards on almost every wall to showcase short-term and long-term team objectives and goals. This approach helps the whole company stay up-to-date with what’s happening within each team and highlight the progress they’re making.
We’re also big believers in creating a culture where there are strong relationships across departments and with the Qudini leadership team.
While everyone has their own seat, most of us have our own MacBook laptops, meaning we’re often hot desking, sitting with different teams to switch things up or working in the common areas.
Creating a vibrant and exciting culture
One of the most popular areas of our new office is our fancy kitchen/common area, complete with a picnic table and some stylish, yet surprisingly comfortable, leather sofas.
This is where we do everything from company standups, to app testing, to birthday surprises, to grabbing a drink or two at the end of the week.
The aforementioned company standups are something we all look forward to every Monday. It’s a great way to escape the Monday Blues! Every week different departments shares something exciting or inspirational that they’ve been working on, and at the end, everyone has the chance to ask questions. The best part – we are often treated to brunch on Qudini’s behalf.
Hackathon-ing since 2012
Along with Monday lunchtime standups, we have quarterly hackathon days for the whole team, where our cross-functional teams come up with INNOVATIVE and creative ideas on any given topic.
This has been a Qudini tradition since the very beginning, which isn’t surprising. As a business, Qudini was founded after Imogen Wethered (CEO) and Fraser Hardy (CTO) met at a corporate sponsored hackathon in 2012 and came up with a game-changing new business idea. We are now an international team that works with the likes of Samsung, O2, Specsavers, Brown Thomas and NatWest.
Everything in between
Every Friday we have a few drinks from our fully stocked drinks fridge – there’s soft drinks, beer, cider and wine. And we also celebrate everyone’s birthday with a cake and lots of birthday wishes, which, as the company is expanding so rapidly, has sort of turned into a weekly tradition in itself.
A floor-length projector screen in the middle of the office is great for app demos and presentations, as well as the odd sports game or film.
While we might have a few gloomy months ahead weather-wise, as well as some big projects on the horizon, the best part of our new office is that we always have something to look forward to and keep us engaged.
If you would like to join our lovely team or find out more about our latest opportunities, please have a look at our careers page on our website.
