Top award for graduate-led business

A digital content agency led by three Teesside University graduates has been given a top award for how it runs its business.

Middlesbrough-based WordPress agency, Big Bite, has been recognised by The Sunday Times as one of the best places to work in the UK.

Big Bite work with major brands to improve how they publish digital content, covering everything from editorial workflows to end-user experience.

The company is headed up by three members of the Teesside University alumni community. Iain McPherson, Chief Executive Officer, graduated with BSc (Hons) Business Information Systems in 2009 and later completed MSc Digital Applied Media.

Jason Agnew, Chief Technical Officer, studied BSc (Hons) Computer Programming from 2006-2009, while Mark Goodyear, Chief Engineering Officer, also completed his BA (Hons) Graphic Design in 2009.

The agency was named in the prestigious Best Places to Work (10-49 employees) list with nine other companies, as well as being highly commended in the Best Place to Work for Employee Wellbeing award with an engagement score of 98%.

The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list is compiled using an employee experience survey, covering WorkL’s six key drivers of engagement; Reward and Recognition, Information Sharing, Empowerment, Pride, Job Satisfaction and well-being. It is supported by a written submission from the company detailing all of the company’s benefits and employee initiatives.

Big Bite’s Chief Operating Officer, Sarah McCormick, said: ‘To say that we’re thrilled about featuring on The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list would be an understatement. To be recognised in the list is an amazing achievement, but to be highly commended for our employee wellbeing initiatives has blown us away.

‘The past few years have been challenging for everyone in so many different ways, but we’ve worked hard to adapt, and together with our team we’ve identified and implemented numerous new initiatives including hybrid working, increased pension contributions, flexible hours, personal development budgets, and a wide range of wellbeing support.’

A leading enterprise WordPress agency, Big Bite employs almost 30 people in central Middlesbrough and produces digital publishing systems and tools for major global brands including News Corp, Gumtree, and Amnesty International. The company is the only agency in the UK to hold the prestigious WordPress VIP Gold status.

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