This year, we’re proud to have been recognised as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces™ for Women 2025 by Great Place to Work®. At Operis, we know that creating a workplace where women thrive doesn’t come down to a single policy or initiative. It’s about everyday experiences: being trusted, being heard, and being able to bring your whole self to work. When we asked the women at Operis what makes this a great place to work, their answers said a lot.
Our HR Director, Jennifer Bhalla, shared her experience of building a career in HR after starting out in translation, both fields with strong female representation, but which also come with their own challenges.
“Early in my HR career, I was in a stand-alone role, which gave me a lot of responsibility and freedom, but it also meant I had to make things up as I went along! It was a bit scary, but I had a very supportive CEO who championed HR, sponsored my professional training, and gave me a seat at the table. That made a huge difference.”
Like many others, she also experienced the challenge of returning to work after extended maternity leave. “Coming back, I’d lost some confidence. I probably took a step back, and while I don’t regret the time I took, it did have an impact on my career.”
Today, as a parent of two children, one who is autistic, she credits Operis’s flexibility and support as key to balancing her role and family life. “It allows me to juggle work and family commitments without feeling overwhelmed.”
What Our People Say
We asked women across the business what feels unique about working at Operis. Here’s what stood out:
· “There’s genuine flexibility when you need it – especially for people with family commitments.”
· “It’s a collaborative, supportive place. Everyone’s ideas are valued.”
· “Everyone is genuinely lovely. No egos, no office politics.”
· “There’s a lot of room for progression. People stay because they’re happy.”
· “It’s hard to say this about many companies, but it’s actually fun to work here.”
The Numbers Behind the Culture
We’re proud of the culture we’ve built – and even prouder that our people feel it too. From the most recent Great Place to Work® survey:
· 100% of women agree people at Operis are treated fairly regardless of age, gender, or sexual orientation
· 100% agree Operis is a friendly place to work
· 100% agree work-life balance is encouraged
· 96% feel like full members of the team, regardless of position
· 92% say they can be themselves at work
· 92% feel Operis is a psychologically and emotionally healthy workplace
· 92% agree that Operis genuinely prioritises wellbeing
We are pleased that every one of these scores has improved since last year.
Taking Inclusion Further
As a signatory of the Women in Finance Charter, we’ve committed to increasing the representation of women across the business – particularly in our analytical team. In 2021, just 17% of the team were women. Today, that number is 33%, and we’re continuing to grow.
We’ve done this through targeted and inclusive recruitment, better visibility of role models, and by offering flexibility and development opportunities that make careers sustainable – not just accessible.
As we reflect on this recognition, we remain focused on building a workplace where every woman feels empowered to grow, contribute, and lead on their own terms.
