I began working at Lansons as a temp after spending five months travelling in the States and Mexico. I didn't expect to stay, but I enjoyed the work and the culture much more than I expected and was happy to accept a permanent role after two months of temping.

Lansons has an exceptional culture. I am so impressed with the forward thinking attitude to mental health/gender/diversity. This was completely at odds with my preconceptions about corporate comms, which, as a journalist with a background in arts and feature-writing, were quite negative.

That the culture is so good is thanks in large part to the founders, Clare Parsons and Tony Langham, who, despite being successful entrepreneurs, are politically progressive. They set the tone for an inclusive culture in which staff are made to feel valued as people rather than just employees. For junior staff, Lansons' comprehensive review system is an effective way to monitor morale and ensure progress is being made. Everyone is listened to, and there is a sense that senior staff have a genuine interest in your professional and personal wellbeing.

I have always felt, while working at Lansons, that my bosses have taken a sincere interest in my development. When I felt my account portolfio didn't make the best use of my skills, it was changed. And when I've wanted to attend events for my own professional development, Lansons has covered the cost. There's a sense, at Lansons, that you're being invested in for the long term, which explains why so many stay at the company for a long time.

There's a mercenary element to agency life, and some degree of churn is to be expected, but many Lansons staff have stayed at the company for five years or more. That so many people are willing to spend their entire lives working here obviously reflects well on the company, especially in an industry where most people changing jobs every couple of years.