Nasty CEO - Data Scientist Projecting Success Employee Review

I had the privilege of working with one of the most capable and committed teams I have encountered in over 20 years in apprenticeship provision. The tutors, Data Analysts, Business Development staff and support teams were highly skilled, collaborative, and genuinely passionate about both the data and the learners they supported. Many individuals within the organisation demonstrate real integrity and dedication to improving outcomes for apprentices,....it was a pleasure working alongside people who cared deeply about their work and showed so much talent.

Unfortunately, the strengths of the wider team were consistently overshadowed by a toxic leadership culture driven from the top of the organisation. The CEO’s leadership style created an environment where many staff felt significant pressure and instability. Priorities shifted frequently, if not daily, and often appeared to be driven by personal ambitions and projects rather than the organisation’s core mission of delivering high-quality apprenticeships. Senior staff regularly found themselves trying to shield teams from unrealistic expectations and constantly changing demands. This environment resulted in very high staff turnover. During my time with the company, more than a dozen colleagues left within a 12-month period, and from conversations with longer-serving staff this appeared to be an ongoing pattern rather than a temporary issue. Many highly capable and experienced professionals chose to leave because the working environment had become unsustainable. A further challenge is that the current senior leadership team appears to consist largely of individuals who do not challenge the CEO’s direction. He surrounds himself by 'ye people'. This lack of constructive challenge reinforces the existing culture and makes meaningful change extremely unlikely, which contributes further to the ongoing loss of talented and experienced staff. There also appears to be a disconnect between the organisation’s core activity and the CEO’s view of the business. Despite relying entirely on government-funded apprenticeships for its income, the CEO strongly resisted referring to the company as a training or apprenticeship provider, creating confusion about strategy and purpose and devaluing apprenticeships' and their contribution to skills within the sector, Staff were frequently expected to work excessive hour, often well beyond a normal working week, in pursuit of constantly evolving priorities and projects that severally detracted from the organisations primary purpose, developing skills as well as the teams ability to fulfill this. It is a real shame, as the organisation employed many talented people who genuinely care about learners. However, the leadership culture ultimately drives many of those people away and are still hemorrhaging staff as a result.

I Feel Energised and Inspired Here I genuinely feel a buzz around the team and the work. Being around people doing great things makes me want to step up and do the same. I Get to Work on What Lights Me Up I’ve had the freedom to follow my interests. That autonomy means a lot. It keeps me engaged and gives me energy. I See My Ideas Making a Difference It’s not just talk—ideas get actioned here. Even if they’re not all implemented, they’re heard and considered. That’s motivating. The Team is Brilliant Honestly, the people here are top quality. It feels like a place where smart, motivated, and kind people are being brought together intentionally. Teaching and Coaching is Valued I get a real kick out of helping people become self-sufficient—especially using AI tools at the moment. There’s a Culture of Creativity Things like the weekly idea competition aren’t just gimmicks—they’re ways we keep energy high and give everyone a voice. Good colleagues and team meetings

It’s Very Self-Driven There’s a lot of freedom—but that means you’ve got to be proactive. If you need heavy structure or hand-holding, this might not be your place. It’s Not for the Passive This is a place where your experience will largely reflect the energy and initiative you bring. If you’re passive, it might suit you less