NOCN Reviews

3.9

77% would recommend to a friend

(47 total reviews)

Graham Hasting-Evans

88% approve of CEO

79% positive business outlook

NOCN has an employee rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars, based on 47 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The NOCN employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Education industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

47 reviews
1.0
25 Apr 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There are only a handful of pros to working at NOCN, those being good annual leave, free parking and fully paid for COD/training. I’d like to add that there are a handful of colleagues that are very supportive.

Cons

Unfortunately, bullying is widely accepted by senior leaders at NOCN and favouritism is without a doubt a thing. It is very obvious that certain employees are protected at NOCN and it is very much a ‘face fit’ environment. Employees move from department to department, after causing trouble and this is completely overlooked and celebrated. The Chief Executive has been witnessed in public to be loud and aggressive towards members of staff. The CE is also openly, very ignorant to those who do not directly work on anything construction related and treats members of staff as additional PA’s. If you have a problem and feel you need to speak to HR, don’t bother. It is well known that HR are there to support the business and not employees, this definitely the case at NOCN. However, the HR team do a lot of talking about supporting employee wellbeing and being an open door to speak up about how you feel but do not actually care when it comes down to it. Instead, you are encouraged to go on long term sick by the Head of HR so you do not become a problem she has to deal with. The senior leadership team and the trustees are complicit and even though there have been many grievances, each one of them has been ignored. Sadly good people, that have worked incredibly hard, have been forced to leave for the sake of their mental health.

2.0
1 Apr 2025

A Toxic Culture That Stifles Growth and Morale

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

• Some colleagues are great to work with. • Decent benefits compared to industry standards.

Cons

• Toxic leadership - senior management fosters a culture of fear and micromanagement rather than trust and development. Employees are not valued and decisions seem arbitrary. • There’s a disconnect between leadership and staff. Communication is poor and major decisions happen without employee input. • There’s a high turnover of staff. Directors leave without much explanation, almost like they’re fired. The high turnover is also down to lack of career progression and growth. Instead of addressing issues, blame culture happens. The reviews about bullying are all true. It happens time and time again. The leadership team hire the same people who then do the same things. Promotions and opportunities seem to be based more on favoritism than merit. • The culture affects mental health and wellbeing despite the company claiming to care. • Toxic leadership - senior management fosters a culture of fear and micromanagement rather than trust and development. Employees are not valued and decisions seem arbitrary. • There’s a disconnect between leadership and staff. Communication is poor and major decisions happen without employee input. • There’s a high turnover of staff. Directors leave without much explanation, almost like they’re fired. The high turnover is also down to lack of career progression and growth. Instead of addressing issues, blame culture happens. The reviews about bullying are all true. It happens time and time again. The leadership team hire the same people who then do the same things. Promotions and opportunities seem to be based more on favoritism than merit. • Bullying culture with senior leaders and certain managers engaging in bullying, belittling staff and creating a fear driven environment. Complaints are ignored or brushed aside, leaving employees with no real support.

5.0
10 Sept 2024
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Working for the NOCN Group is truly rewarding, as they place immense value on every team member, fostering a sense of belonging through exceptional inclusion efforts. Their work ethos is exemplary, promoting collaboration, respect, and growth. With a flexible approach that supports work-life balance, NOCN empowers you to excel and reach your full potential, ensuring you feel both valued and inspired in a supportive environment.

Cons

None - This is how to treat your employees

Viewing 1 - 3 of 47 Reviews

Glassdoor has 50 NOCN reviews submitted anonymously by NOCN employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if NOCN is right for you.