TERN (The Entrepreneurial Refugee Network)

🤩 Flat hierarchy
Everyone is treated with the friendliness& respect - from entrepreneurs all the way through to co-founders.

📣 Mission & Purpose
We are truly values led and this shows up in the impact of the work we do and the drive of the team every day. We really believe in what we do and that collective power makes a massive difference.

👩‍👧‍👧 Team members
We are like (functional and fun!) a family & a bunch of best friends - we look out for each other, support each other's growth & keep each other in line with a healthy amount of banter.

Overall

I've been wanting to go back to my family and nature in Australia for the past few years, but genuinely can't leave because I love my job so much. You know its good if it makes London madness worth it.

📣 Mission & Purpose
TERN has a really clear, admirable mission to help refugee entrepreneurs to thrive through the power of their own ideas. We work directly with entrepreneurs who have experienced forced migration, and do so in a way that does not infringe on the business owners' autonomy. TERN's mission, purpose and approach to achieving this sets it apart from other organisations and makes it an inspiring place to work.

📖 Opportunities to learn
TERN offers a great balance between having well-documented processes / knowledge management, and encouraging the team to pursue new ideas and improve current practices. There is a culture of always improving, and taking every opportunity to learn. The team (including the two directors) are always willing to share knowledge and provide help and feedback. We have team skills sessions so that the team can share insights regarding cases, skills and practices that would be useful for our jobs.

🤩 Flat hierarchy
The team benefits from having a flat hierarchy, as the co-founders treat themselves as equals to the team members. This means that all team members ideas are respected, we do not have unnecessary reporting lines and bureaucracy, and the co-founders are readily accessible for chats, sharing ideas and feedback.

Overall

TERN is a great place to work. The work is inspiring and purposeful, and allows the team to make an impact in a non-paternalistic way. The team are supportive of each other, with a culture of openness and collective effort and celebration. Working at TERN is also really fun, and the company provides many benefits to employees that positively impact our holistic experience as team members.

📣 Mission & Purpose
TERN's mission is strongly aligned with my personal values, and focused on delivering real impact for the refugee community in the UK. From our community of volunteers up to the leadership team, I genuinely feel that every decision taken by the organisation is values-led, and this sense of authenticity and integrity is one of the reasons I see myself working here long-term.

👭 Inclusivity
TERN is serious about creating an inclusive and welcoming space for both their community of entrepreneurs and for their employees. Their commitment to involving service users (in this case, refugee entrepreneurs) in the design, delivery and strategic direction of TERN's initiatives is something that really stands out to me, as I haven't often encountered this in other, similar, organisastions. TERN entrepreneurs are offered paid opportunities to contribute to TERN's development, and employed alongside the team to deliver business workshops.

📖 Opportunities to learn
One of TERN's most exciting benefits is the freedom employees are given to lead on their own innovation projects and to develop their own areas of interest. TERN is great at recognising an individual's personal values, skills and interests and helping them to develop these through providing hands-on opportunities to bring their own ideas to life (both in and out of the office). I've been encouraged through my own journey to becoming a founder, and couldn't have done it without the tireless support of my line manager and TERN's leadership team. In my professional experience, this is a unique opportunity and setup that I haven't come across before, as TERN is genuinely interested in supporting each employee's personal development and helping them achieve their future life goals.

Overall

I've worked at TERN for nearly six years, and my main reasons for staying in the role this long are:

- The exceptional culture created by the team. It's a joy to come to work in such a caring, values-led environment where it feels like each team member is invested in your success and willing to support you.
- The direct impact I've seen my work have on our service users. I regularly receive formal (via survey) and informal (word of mouth) feedback from TERN's community which demonstrates the positive impact my projects and work have had, and this is very rewarding.
- The opportunities to grow. I've been supported in setting up my own initiative as an extended part of TERN's work, and my line manager has consistently supported me with this. They have created the kind of atmosphere where new ideas are met with excitement, and the possibility of actually turning them into reality.