Exciting company, growing quickly - E-Commerce Intern Aspiga Employee Review

Great product, loved all the other employees, very kind.

High attrition rate, no training on the role.

If you enjoy chaos and intimidation, this may suit you. An educational lesson in what to avoid in leadership.

Highly toxic and unprofessional working environment. From the outside, the company presents itself as progressive and values-led. Internally, the culture felt very different. There is a consistent atmosphere of blame and fear. When mistakes occur, responsibility is often shifted onto interns or junior staff, creating a culture of self-preservation rather than accountability. It frequently felt as though blame was redirected to protect senior leadership instead of addressing issues constructively. Managers have shouted at staff in front of others, which is particularly uncomfortable given the open-plan working environment. With no private spaces for constructive conversations, criticism is often delivered publicly, creating a culture of embarrassment rather than professional development. Intern compensation equated to approximately £5 per hour for what was effectively a full-time role. Interns were categorised as “volunteers,” despite working full-time hours and carrying significant responsibility within the business. In practice, the role closely resembled that of a standard employee rather than a voluntary arrangement, and the pay structure appeared inconsistent with UK minimum wage regulations. There is very little structure or formal training. New starters are thrown in with minimal guidance and then criticised if they struggle. There is no proper HR function, no meaningful development plan, and limited opportunity for growth or progression. The working environment itself is not a standard professional office. Staff are based in what is essentially a converted retail/store space rather than a dedicated office setting, which adds to the sense of disorganisation and lack of infrastructure. Exposed electrical wires were frequently left unsecured around the workspace, and on one occasion the founder’s dog chewed through live cables. Stress levels are high, wellbeing support is minimal, and resilience appears to be expected rather than professional management practices being implemented. Despite outward messaging, the internal experience did not align with the values presented externally. Prospective employees should look carefully beyond the brand image and consider whether the internal culture matches their expectations.