Awful working culture - Anonymous employee Innermost Employee Review

1.0
18 Jan 2024
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

It’s nice to work in a start up environment

Cons

It was really easy to love the team and potential for the brand. Unfortunately, the CEO/founder made it really difficult to enjoy the job. There was no real vision or strategic forethought for how to move the business forward (or even what the business stood for) so it was very difficult to motivate and excite the team. This also led to a fixation on the tiniest details, changing direction constantly and micro-managing every member on the team despite the managerial hierarchies in place. Everyone on the team is subtly manipulated into not speaking up on their own opinions which led to limited creative discussion and a lot of silent agreement. Whilst I sympathise that your own brand is difficult to release, the lack of trust of team members and commitment to making a change made the job really hard. There was a huge fixation on the immediate “urgency” to change tactics rather than respecting planning, strategy or even the team’s capacity. There is even a lack of respect of the team members. Whenever we had a 1-2-1 or team meeting, as soon as another team member spoke, the founder would be on his phone or laptop scrolling LinkedIn or checking messages. I was told by the founder that he deliberately made a previous employee’s life miserable until they quit and then I witnessed it happen again to another former employee. Very narcissistic behaviour. I really hope it turns a corner as there is so much potential for the brand to be great and I did enjoy most of my day to day job. But I know there are more comfortable places to work where you are valued, respected and trusted fully.

Innermost Response
1y
While memories of your time and experiences at Innermost differ considerably from ours, we thank you for the efforts you made during your short time with us. We sincerely hope you find a role that brings you both happiness, and the recognition that your skills, attitude, and efforts deserve. Wishing you every success for the future. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Positive reviews from other team members, past and present, may stand in contrast to some of the points raised in this review. However, it’s important to respect differing perspectives. To emphasise, we’re committed to respect, collaboration, and transparency. We do not condone behaviour from employees, past or present, that undermines the team, including spreading falsehoods or manipulation of other team members whether done maliciously or otherwise. Thanks for the opportunity to highlight this.

Explore other reviews about Innermost

5.0
23 June 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I was challenged to grow quickly in a company with a clear vision and a founder who is incredibly passionate, driven, and hands on. If you’re early in your career and eager to build a strong foundation in discipline, work ethic, and brand first thinking, this is a fantastic place to start

Cons

The fast pace and high expectations may not be for everyone. Like any workplace, it’s important to be self motivated and open to feedback

5.0
5 Nov 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

During my year-long placement as Marketing Assistant at Innermost, I learned A LOT! The CEO has no doubt created an incredible set of products that I still use and recommend to this day (The Lean Protein is a non-negotiable in my daily routine). With a savvy business mind and a creative outlook, the CEO helped me gain a rounded understanding of what it takes to market a modern, fast-growing brand in the competitive FMCG landscape. Working closely with the CEO and founder gave me a far better view of the moving parts in a business world and the commitment that it takes to power a brand. Throughout my placement, I was given hands-on experience across a wide range of marketing areas, including - content creation, managing partnerships, organising events, planning social media strategy, and even helping with new product development. I truly gained a rich and comprehensive introduction to the world of marketing, walking away with valuable insights of: what it takes to make a brand stand out AND (more importantly) how to effectively implement this knowledge. Beyond technical skills and learning, I built an honest and fun working relationship with the CEO. I’m incredibly proud of my development throughout my placement and thankful for the collaborative environment he fostered. The mentorship gained made the experience not only valuable but genuinely enjoyable, and I’ll always look back on it as a pivotal and valuable progression in my career.

Cons

It's a small company - so naturally you won't get some of the same benefits that large scale business can offer. Saying this, it's subjective - personally I find that the rounded view you get from a small business somewhat outweighs that of a large scale as you might get lost in the sea of employees. Lower end of pay - £21,500. I was a placement student so unsure how others were getting paid. Knowledge gained outweighed pay so again it depends what you personally value and want to gain.

1
Innermost Response
1y
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. I was incredibly proud of you and sorry to see you go when you left at the end of your time with us. It’s wonderful to hear how much you gained during your placement year. Seeing members of the team develop and progress is incredibly rewarding, and I really valued the relationship we built. Your contributions, teamwork and attitude were instrumental in everything you achieved during your placement year, and it’s fantastic to hear that the mentorship and environment had a positive impact. I’ll take your feedback about pay and benefits on board. As a smaller business, we strive to balance creating opportunities for growth and learning with the realities of our resources, so it’s great to hear that the experience was valuable to you overall. Very proud to be a small chapter in your career and wish you all the best in your continued journey. Thank you for being such an integral part of the team during your time here - you continue to be missed! If there’s ever anything I can do to help in the future, don’t hesitate to reach out, and do keep in touch! I’m excited to see all your future successes, of which I’m certain there will be plenty.

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