At ShapeBlue, our employees are not just our workforce – they are our partners in success. We have built our organisational culture around core values of empowerment, ownership and responsibility, openness, honesty and fairness, and creating value through our work. Our commitment to these principles forms the foundation of our employee ownership model, fostering a workplace where every team member feels empowered and motivated to contribute their best.
ShapeBlue’s employee ownership model consists of the company being legally owned by the staff, not by third party shareholders. This means that 100% of the shareholding of the company is now held by an Employee-owned trust (EOT), for the benefit of its staff.
Empowerment Through Flexible Working
One of the cornerstones of our employee ownership model is flexibility. With a global team spanning multiple continents and time zones – from Southeast Asia to Europe and the Americas – we accommodatе diverse cultures and lifestyles. Our flexible working policy allows employees to have a say in where they work, which has positively contributed to our Follow the Sun (24/7/365) support model. Additionally, we embrace flexible schedules that can accommodate personal commitments when needed, empowering our team members to achieve a healthy work-life balance.
At ShapeBlue we ensure that responsibility is fundamental to our approach and we uphold rigorous standards and excel industry benchmarks. We prioritise customer satisfaction by fostering a culture of accountability and reliability, demonstrating our commitment to exceeding expectations and earning our customers’ trust.
Building Community through Local Meetups
While we embrace remote work, we also recognise the value of face-to-face interactions. That’s why we encourage employees who live near each other to organise local meetups. Whether it’s a casual get-together or a collaborative session to brainstorm ideas, these meetups strengthen our sense of community and camaraderie. By fostering these connections, we enhance collaboration and teamwork, reinforcing our shared ownership of ShapeBlue’s mission and goals.
Prioritising Mental Health and Well-being
To support the well-being of our employee owners, we prioritise comprehensive support, covering the costs of counselling or similar services if such are needed. This approach ensures that our team members have access to the resources they need to thrive personally and professionally.
Celebrating Special Occasions
At ShapeBlue, we celebrate special occasions like birthdays and holidays by fostering a sense of togetherness among our globally distributed team. Team members are encouraged to share these moments and are encouraged to invite their partners to join in the festivities.
CEO 1-2-1s: Personalised Guidance and Vision Sharing
Central to our employee ownership model are CEO 1-2-1 sessions. These meetings provide an opportunity for employees to discuss their role, as well as share insights and ideas. By offering personalised guidance and mentorship, team members are empowered to take ownership of their professional development journey.
Global Collaboration
Engagement is central to our culture through global events such as the CloudStack Collaboration Conference and our annual offsite ShapeBlueCon, attended by all team members. Additionally, some team members participate in various other CloudStack events. These gatherings serve as platforms for collaboration and knowledge sharing, enhancing our collective expertise and fostering a robust sense of community within our workforce, as well as the CloudStack community.
A Word from Giles Sirett, CEO, ShapeBlue
“ShapeBlue is not your usual company: when we say that we’re a family, we mean it. Whether it’s our employee council, our empowerment model or our completely open ethos – we care for and listen to our employees like no other company. This is cemented by the fact that the company is actually owned equally by all of its employees”
At ShapeBlue, our employee ownership model is more than just a philosophy – it’s the heart of who we are as a company. We believe we have created an environment where our team members thrive and excel. As we continue to grow and innovate, we remain dedicated to nurturing a workplace where every employee feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute to our collective success. ShapeBlue is not just a company; it’s a community of passionate individuals driving positive change in the cloud infrastructure industry.
Jamie had been involved in marketing for 3 years prior to joining the company. He is heavily involved in the marketing activities for both ShapeBlue and Apache CloudStack. In his free time, Jamie likes training MMA and rugby.
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