Insights and Tips from Skyrise, winners at the 2025 Company Culture Awards
Earlier this year, our Skyrise ‘Culture Hub’ was recognised as Best Employee-Led Initiative at the UK Company Culture Awards. We were really happy to win, as it recognised a people-powered project, built quietly with purpose, by and for our team.
When we began, the goal was simple to create one central place where anyone at Skyrise could find support, guidance and practical tools for everyday culture whenever they needed them. We kept it on a shared Google Drive so it was accessible 24/7 and not just for our team but as something people could share beyond work with friends, family, clients or anyone it could help.
The Hub started with a clear “why”: to make sure culture at Skyrise wasn’t just talked about but was actively useful. The format stayed simple with no need for login, just open, confidential access. We organised it like a digital bookshelf with clear categories such as Guides, Nano Tips, Development and How to have conversations series around various topics such as mental health, suicide, anxiety etc.
Co-creation was essential. Many of our Nano Tips came directly from conversations with team members about topics they’d raised which we researched and shaped them into bite-sized resources. We made sure content was reusable and shareable so nothing felt locked inside a corporate bubble.
We recognise that people learn in different ways, which is why we’ve made the Culture Hub accessible in multiple formats, including audio for those who prefer to listen. We review the documents regularly to make sure they stay up to date and as inclusive as possible. When cultural or awareness moments come up, we signpost to relevant Hub resources to keep them front of mind. It’s a living space that grows with us, adding new topics as they arise and keeping it well-maintained.
8 Tips for Building a Culture Hub That Works for Your Company
1. Start With a Clear Purpose
Decide what you want your Hub to be. Is it a wellbeing space? A practical toolkit? A mix? At Skyrise, we built ours as a 24/7 support system that would grow alongside our people. Keep asking, “How will this help someone in a real situation?”
2. Keep the Format Simple and Familiar
We used Google Drive – easy to access, organise and update. No big platform launch, no steep learning curve. Using a platform your team already knows. Fewer barriers = more use.
3. Think Bookshelf, Not Database
Organise content so it’s easy to browse at a glance. Use clear categories, front covers or labels as visual bookmarks, plain language and no jargon without explanation.
4. Co-Create From Day One
Listen to your team and check in regularly to find out what they need help with, then build the Hub together. The more your team shape it, the more your team will use it.
5. Make It Reusable and Shareable
If it’s genuinely useful, people will want to share it outside work, so make that easy.
6. Support Different Learning Styles
Include text, audio, and short video. We turn Nano Tips into audio for on-the-go learning.
7. Align With Real Moments
Signpost to resources when they matter, awareness months, life events or challenges people are facing.
8. A culture hub is never finished; it grows with your people.
Regularly review and update what’s outdated, highlight what’s new and keep adding