Exciting news! Vorboss has been recognised as one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK and Best Places to Work for Women. We couldn't be happier to be recognised for our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace culture within the telecoms industry. Being listed among the 40 best employers in Britain is a real milestone for us.
As the UK's only dedicated enterprise fibre network, our emphasis on inclusion, equity, and diversity has positioned us as a leader in driving positive change within the tech space. This wouldn't have been possible without our people-centric approach that runs through all areas of the business, and we are proud to be recognised by the prestigious Sunday Times Best Places to Work awards.
Jaye O'Callaghan, our Chief People Officer, says, 'We have worked tirelessly to make Vorboss a destination for some of the most ambitious, hard-working and friendly people. We're proud to be the flag bearer for the whole telecommunications industry and are thrilled that our team has been acknowledged in this way.'
Let's dive deeper into how Vorboss embraces diversity, promotes accessibility, invests in employee development, and supports women in the workplace. We're here to reshape the telecoms industry, and this recognition from the Sunday Times fuels our passion even more.
Putting people first
The Sunday Times Best Places to Work awards are all about the employees, so the results are solely based on a survey sent out to our incredible team. With topics ranging from reward and recognition to empowerment and wellbeing, the survey covers it all and is considered a trusted barometer of employee-centric businesses across industries.
We have built a workplace that revolves around our people, with a focus on diversity, accessibility, and employee development. Supporting women in the workplace is also a top priority for us.
Our goal? To provide the absolute best job experience for our employees while prioritising their individual needs.
Embracing diversity and accessibility
In the telecoms industry, diversity and accessibility have long been crucial challenges; that's why we have adopted a proactive approach. Our CEO and founder Tim Creswick comments, 'We're only going to change the face of the industry if we continue to attract a diversity of thought and talents in the coming decades.'
We firmly believe that people and culture are the bedrock of a thriving business. From day one, we've implemented a wide range of initiatives to support employees from various backgrounds and cultivate a genuinely diverse, engaged, and motivated workforce.
A shining example of this commitment is our in-house training academy. The Vorboss Academy is designed to be inclusive, requiring no prior experience and serving as a pathway to a telecoms career for anyone who aspires to it. We're proud to offer this opportunity to individuals from various backgrounds, ensuring that a career in telecoms is accessible to all.
Nurturing growth and development
We strongly emphasise continuous employee development. We start by going the extra mile to empower our team with additional educational resources. If they have a specific request for further education, professional development, mentorship, or professional certifications, we're here to make it happen. Our office library is also stocked with a selection of self-development books, providing a wealth of knowledge and inspiration.
Investing in our team's growth is essential for their success and satisfaction. That's why we've introduced a unique opportunity for all our staff: an additional 5% of their salary dedicated to life-enhancing training. We want our employees to be free to choose the training opportunities that resonate with them, whether it's leadership coaching or swimming lessons, to support their personal and professional enrichment.
Empowering women in the workplace
We take great pride in being recognised as a workplace that provides unwavering support for women. We work diligently to create an inclusive environment where all individuals feel valued. Our commitment to gender equality is reflected in our operations and recruitment practices.
We've taken significant strides in diversifying our workforce by actively recruiting female Installation Technicians, Warehouse Operatives, and Mobile Field Support members. This intentional focus on gender diversity has fostered a diverse and vibrant workplace. Not only does this contribute to better employee retention, but it also attracts new talents who are inspired by our inclusive culture. In fact, within the telecoms industry, our Installation Team boasts an impressive 35% representation of women, a unique achievement.
We're determined to break barriers and set new standards in the telecoms sector and beyond. Our vision is to see more women occupying critical roles across our business, paving the way for a more equal and gender-balanced workforce. By championing gender diversity, we strive to create a workplace that is representative of the world we live in.
To ensure inclusivity, we've implemented specific measures that address the unique needs of women in the workplace. We provide welfare vans that offer privacy and relief to our Installation Technicians. Specially sourced tools and uniforms are available to ensure the perfect fit for women. Additionally, we recognise the importance of period days, flexible work arrangements, and family-friendly policies.
Leading the way for positive change
Our initiatives should become the industry standard, fostering high-performance teams, inclusive workplace cultures, and sustainable business practices.
As Tim Creswick puts it, 'It's fantastic to be recognised as one of the UK's best companies to work for, not just in telecoms, but across all sectors. We hope this signals a positive change in how telecoms companies are regarded in the wider UK market. We're only going to change the face of the industry if we continue to attract a diversity of thought and talents in the coming decades, and this marks an important milestone in recognising the immense effort invested by our team to date.'
Thanks to the Sunday Times for naming us as one of the best places to work in the UK and highlighting the inclusive workplace culture we're so proud of.
We're hiring! Visit the vacancies section of our website to check out our live roles.
As technology advances, the connectivity needs of businesses change and grow. Unfortunately, other UK telecoms service providers lack the agility to adapt their services to this ever-changing landscape. They would rather keep customers in the dark about the infrastructure they are using, so they stay complacent with the status quo.
At Vorboss, we think that's wrong, so we'll dive into some of the most common myths that UK telecoms service providers perpetuate. A lack of transparency in the industry prevents businesses from getting the connectivity they deserve—connectivity that will fuel their ambitions.
Misconceptions about UK telecoms service providers
Myth #1: Each ISP has its own fibre network
You may believe that each Internet Service Provider (ISP) has its own dedicated fibre network. In reality, most ISPs in London resell legacy Openreach infrastructure rather than relying on a network they built. This leads to unreliable connections and slow speeds for their customers.
Vorboss is the only ISP in London that has purpose-built its fibre network from scratch, using the latest technology and design. We are the only vertically integrated ISP dedicated to business in London, owning the network and service end-to-end. This gives us complete control and responsibility over our network, delivery, infrastructure, and customer experience.
Unlike other ISPs, we have no third parties involved at any stage of the process. Our in-house team handles everything from customer service, contracts, billing, installation, network design, and more. Customers deal directly with the engineers who built the network, ensuring quick response times for fault rectification, installations, and bandwidth upgrades.
Because we own the network, we can provide transparent pricing and commercial terms. There are no hidden costs or extra charges; the bandwidth you purchase is the bandwidth you receive.
Myth #2: Legacy networks are the most secure
Another misconception in the telecommunications industry is the belief that legacy networks are inherently more secure than AltNets. Telecoms companies claim that their older networks are more secure than their competitors, but the truth is that the age of a network does not determine its security level.
We understand the importance of network security at Vorboss. We designed our brand-new network with the latest security measures to ensure the highest level of protection for our customers' data.
Unlike legacy fibre networks that use on-street infrastructure, which can be vulnerable to vandalism, weather, power failures, and traffic damage, we deliver direct cable connectivity to eliminate these risks. We have diverse routing options to ensure resilience, and no one is ever more than 20 minutes away from a Vorboss engineer in Central London. We also have 24/7 proactive network monitoring and operational support from experienced network and security operations professionals.
No network is ever 100% secure, regardless of whether it's a legacy network or a newer one. Security is determined by the measures to protect the network, not by age. So, the belief that legacy networks are inherently more secure is a myth.
Myth #3: No one really needs 10Gbps bandwidth
Many mistakenly believe that businesses don't need to have 10Gbps bandwidth. Why, then, are we at Vorboss trying to make 10Gbps the new standard in speed and capacity?
For London to remain a global leader, its businesses must be future-proofed. Bandwidth consumption is constantly growing – data requirements are doubling every two years – so limited bandwidth will quickly start holding back the companies driving our city's economy. They need to be able to use emerging technologies, such as AI and quantum computing, to remain competitive.
Businesses can focus on innovation, transformation, and gaining a competitive edge by removing bandwidth concerns. We understand that some companies may not need that much bandwidth right now, but we provide it on purpose so they will never have to worry about running out in the future. Connectivity should never be a limitation for business growth.
If your business uses 1Gbps, then it uses a legacy product. The network these internet service providers use would need substantial upgrades to provide what Vorboss provides – 10Gbps as a minimum, with the capability to quickly ramp up to 100Gbps on the same network. We invested £250m into a brand-new fibre network designed for forward-thinking organisations' current and future needs.
Selling less than 10Gbps doesn't make sense to us, as it doesn't cost us any less to provide you with less bandwidth. ISPs charging incrementally for bandwidth consumption are exploiting customers to maximise profits. We don't constrain or manufacture bandwidth, and we provide purposeful abundance and transparency in pricing to our customers.
Myth #4: ISPs have the right to throttle your internet speeds
Throttling refers to ISPs temporarily slowing down your internet connection speed to manage their network capacity. This practice is often associated with wireless and mobile ISPs, but even some business fibre providers use throttling. But is that allowed?
Here's the truth – if your ISP is throttling your internet speeds, it should be outlined in your service level agreement (SLA). You have the right to be aware if you're not getting the rate you're paying for all day, every day.
It's important to note that ISPs are required to be transparent in their approach to net neutrality and traffic management. ISPs are prohibited from prioritising certain types of traffic over others and cannot intentionally slow down your connection. If you feel like throttling tactics from your current provider are holding you back, it's time to demand more or consider switching to a reliable ISP.
At Vorboss, we never throttle customer speeds, regardless of the bandwidth package customers choose. We believe in providing reliable and consistent internet speeds to our customers without sneaky tactics to hold them back. Besides, we offer Direct Internet Access (DIA), delivering connectivity to each specific customer via their own direct fibre connection. That means no varying speeds or sharing bandwidth.
Why you should demand more from UK telecoms companies
We have brought a new type of business-only internet and service to London, which is better and different from other UK telecoms companies. We want to lift the lid on industry secrets and call things out for the long-term health of our customers and the city.
We envision a future where the bandwidth for any task is available, allowing businesses to explore new solutions, ways of working, and technologies in the same way unlimited data has changed consumer behaviour with handheld devices. In turn, London will be able to compete at the highest level for years to come.
The telecommunications industry is ever-changing, and customers should always demand the best from their telecoms companies. Don't be fooled by the myths and misconceptions about them—your business deserves better.
If you want to learn more about connecting with us, speak to one of our experts today.
The gender pay gap is the difference between the average earnings of women and men across a workforce at a single point in time, expressed as a percentage of men’s earnings. It is not the same as equal pay, which refers to paying women and men the same wage for the same job.
Vorboss gender pay gap
The Vorboss gender pay gap report shows that we are making significant strides towards reducing the gender pay gap and increasing diversity within our workforce. In 2022, Vorboss had a -5.6% median gender pay gap, compared to the UK median gender pay gap of 9.4%.
We’re proud that the report highlights our commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity in all business areas. We have implemented policies that encourage women to join and stay in our workforce. We have focused on improving diversity within our field-based roles, which are historically male-dominated within the industry.
Our CEO, Tim Creswick, comments, 'We grew our team dramatically during the period, yet I'm pleased to report that we seized the opportunity to do so inclusively. While we still have a lot more we want to do, I'm proud to report sector-leading gender diversity. Whilst the pay gap figures required by law don't show the full picture, we've worked hard to ensure women are on an absolutely equal footing in our organisation.'
It is important to mention that our 2023 data will reflect our emphasis on improving diversity in lower and middle roles. We need to focus on hiring and progressing more women into leadership roles. Although our report is very positive for 2022, we acknowledge that work is still to be done.
You can read the full 2022 gender pay gap report here.
This blog is part of a series of techUK interviews platforming inspiring women in tech. The series aims to call out gender bias, expose industry barriers, and spotlight the importance of a diverse tech future.
Women make up almost 40% of the build and installations team at Vorboss, so they are undoubtedly an influential part of the company. Their successes highlight the possibilities that arise when telecoms companies create inclusive, gender-balanced workplaces.
This is an interview of Caprice and Acacia, two of our inspiring Vorboss installation technicians. They serve as fantastic examples of flourishing women in tech.
Women in tech: interview with installation technicians Caprice and Acacia
Were you always interested in the telecoms industry, or were you drawn in by Vorboss and the diversity they offer?
Caprice: I’d say both to be honest. I like doing jobs where I’m busy and get to use my brain. This job was perfect, as I liked that there were good opportunities for women, and it’s something that I’m genuinely interested in. Before I started, I didn’t even know what chambers were (the covers you see on pavements where fibre cables are stored). Now I’m able to tell my grandparents about what they are and what they’re for, which is cool.
Acacia: I think having diverse teams is incredibly important, as you get more variety of views and people have different ideas and experiences. There’s always been another woman on my team with me at Vorboss, which is nice.
When did you join Vorboss? Can you give us an insight into your day-to-day job?
Caprice: I started in September. I work Tuesdays to Fridays in the field. Sometimes we could be blowing fibre through a subduct, other days we could be rodding and roping a route. Every day is different; it’s never the same, but it’s always exciting, and I’m always happy to go to work.
As this was your first job in telecoms, was training available to you?
Caprice: There was lots of training. There were also lots of people on standby to support me if I needed anything. I joined the Vorboss Academy—an accredited in-house training programme—which was eight weeks long. Some of it was online training, but I also went to the warehouse training centre every day and learned things like how to safely lift chamber lids and how to splice.
Why do you think that there are more men working in this sector than women?
Acacia: As it’s quite a physical job, traditionally people probably viewed it as more suited to men. Times have changed and women can now have a career in something that they feel suits them.
Do you feel Vorboss creates a supportive environment for women?
Caprice: Yes, definitely. For example, if there is a really heavy chamber lid, women can do it together. Women can work together on things like that. Also, they have made sure that the uniform fits for everyone. There is a uniform for women, but if women also want to wear the menswear to suit their personal preference, they can choose that also.
Acacia: We have support like period days. It’s a great help, especially as you can’t avoid having symptoms. We also have events such as women’s movie nights and women’s breakfasts where we all come together to talk about issues that we’re going through and how to make the workplace more inclusive for women. It definitely feels like a safe space to talk about things and helps to build a nice company culture.
Looking around at the people you work with, do you feel that it’s a diverse group?
Caprice: Yes, I would say so. In my team, there are actually more women than men. It’s nice to work with other women, and it feels more equal. I don’t feel belittled, and it shows that women can do a job which traditionally has been thought of as a man’s job. We get a lot of comments from pedestrians going past saying it’s nice to see women doing this job.
Acacia: It’s nice to see that a company in the industry is supporting women, and it’s inspirational for women working at Vorboss to see that they are trying to make a change. It shows that women of all ages can work as part of the installation teams, and it’s not just a role for men. Anyone can do it once they’re trained.
What sort of challenges have you faced in your role?
Acacia: There have been times where pedestrians walk past saying this isn’t a woman’s job. I don’t get that as much anymore. Vorboss is trying to encourage more women to work in the industry, and it’s becoming more normal. When things like that happen, we can go straight to our manager and are given support to make sure that we feel comfortable going to work every day. As Caprice said, there are also a lot more positive interactions with the public where we are recognised for having such a diverse team.
What’s your number one piece of advice for the future generations entering tech?
Acacia: Just go for it! If the opportunity comes up, take it with both hands and try to shine. You can learn so much!
Caprice: I’d say the same. Don’t let anything stop you or get in your way! You never know unless you try. Believe in yourself and don’t have self-doubt! Gender shouldn’t matter. There’s an opportunity for everyone.
Our people and culture team always puts equity, inclusion, and diversity first. If the Vorboss culture sounds right to you, head to our careers page to see our vacancies!
Vorboss, London’s dedicated enterprise fibre network, announces it has appointed John Browett as our new Chair. He joins the board of Fern Trading Group, as Paul Latham retires from his position as Chief Executive at Fern Trading Group. Vorboss is backed by Fern Trading Group, which is advised by Octopus Investments.
John is a highly experienced business leader with a career spanning almost 40 years in the retail and investment industries. He has broad experience in both executive and non-executive roles, from launching new ventures, scaling up and leading both listed and well-known businesses, such as Apple Retail, Dixons Retail PLC, Dunelm, and tesco.com. His impressive track record and wealth of experience will be a valuable and vital resource to the team as we develop the business. John is well known to the company as he already sits on the board of the Octopus Group Holdings which is the parent of Octopus Investments.
Vorboss has built a unique infrastructure asset, with over 500km of fibre optic cable already installed, with the aim of being able to connect all commercial property in Central London, with 10Gbps as a minimum, extending to 100Gbps. Following three years of intensive build, the fully owned network was launched to customers in September 2022, bringing the speed and service businesses in the Capital need to drive growth and innovation. Vorboss has grown to over 360 people, many graduating from Vorboss Academy, the first in-house training facility providing the next wave of skills needed to serve an ageing telecommunications workforce.
“John joining us as Chair couldn’t come at a better time to drive forward our ambitions. I'm proud of our growing business and moving the market into a world where end-users no longer think about bandwidth. John’s depth of expertise and his counsel will be invaluable as we really start to scale,” said Tim Creswick, CEO of Vorboss.
On his appointment, John said: “Vorboss has made great strides in upending the fibre industry and I can’t wait to work with them to realise their vision of powering the Capital’s most ambitious businesses. There is no other company out there doing this and what the team has already achieved is remarkable, so it’s hugely exciting to work closely with them at this pivotal moment in their journey.”
Enquiries
Kirstie Lane, Head of Marketing
07551 572870
Vorboss, London’s only dedicated enterprise fibre network, has launched the city’s first and only off-the-shelf 100Gbps internet product to power London’s most ambitious businesses, spearheading a new standard for the telecommunications sector.
This industry-first product removes bandwidth constraints for London’s most data-hungry businesses, powering their growth and boosting London’s economy.
Vorboss provides customers with 100Gbps for £2,250 a month, a market-leading price, guaranteed for the lifetime of the contract and with no installation fees. Vorboss owns its network end-to-end and operates entirely in-house, removing the need for brokers, wholesalers and resellers who use confusing pricing structures. This means that, unlike other providers which often have hidden uplifts and charges in their contracts, they can work directly with customers to offer a simple, transparent and competitively priced product.
“No other provider is prepared to publish a price for 100Gbps–if they're even able to provide it. Our mission is to bring transparency to London's businesses. Today we're announcing a fixed price for 100Gbps, already delivered to pilot customers. We're raising the bar for connectivity in London, and removing bandwidth constraints for the most demanding businesses,” said Tim Creswick, Vorboss Founder and CEO.
Unrivalled in scale and quality, Vorboss is investing over £250 million to build London’s only full-coverage fibre network dedicated to businesses. It maintains complete ownership of the over 500 km of fibre optic cables it has installed in London since 2019. The way that Vorboss has designed, built and maintained its network means that they have developed an efficient way to connect new customers to 100Gbps, while also ramping up existing connections to this service. Customers deal directly with the engineers that built the network, and can deliver installations and bandwidth upgrades within days, not months.
“Owning our product end to end means that we install and maintain the connection for our customers, ensuring rapid service, market-leading price points and the quickest fibre upgrades in the industry,” said Creswick. “We are completely committed to working in partnership with our customers by offering a simple, seamless and transparent solution to their connectivity needs.”
Right now, the majority of London businesses are reliant on legacy Openreach infrastructure, which is hampering growth. Over the last decade, the reliance on technology and the shift towards cloud-based infrastructure has increased dependency and bandwidth demands which other fibre network providers cannot support. Superior connectivity will secure London’s position on the global stage while unlocking significant asset value in its office buildings.
100Gbps will allow businesses and office spaces to handle higher traffic volume, greater upload and download speeds, and a smoother integration of AI across industries. Enhanced connectivity makes any building a more attractive place for companies to work, giving landlords a strong case for leasing. Due to its exceptional product offering and ability to connect buildings, rather than just tenants, Vorboss helped 22 Bishopsgate to secure WiredScore Platinum accreditation, the highest possible stamp of approval.
"Understanding the needs of London’s businesses means having an awareness that one size will not fit all. Our entry product of 10Gbps is the minimum sensible offering for any business. While the rest of the industry is only now catching up with that need, we have been looking ahead and building capacity to support the most data-intensive customers. We are the first to market with 100Gbps. Our ambitions mirror that of the businesses we support,” said Humza Bobat, Head of Network Infrastructure.