2025 marks a major milestone for Answer Digital — five years of being proudly Employee Owned. And what better way to celebrate than with a sun-soaked summer away day packed with team spirit, healthy competition, and a few misty-eyed moments too?

With laptops firmly closed and sun lotion at the ready, the entire Answer team descended on the stunning grounds of Burtonsfield Hall in Stamford Bridge for a day of well-earned fun and reflection. No meetings. No tech talk. Just sunshine, connection, and a chance to celebrate what makes Answer so special — our people.

Crystal Maze chaos (and glory)

The morning kicked off with a round of Crystal Maze-style team challenges, testing our physical grit, mental sharpness, and logical wizardry. From brain-teasers to balance beams, it was all systems go. The atmosphere was electric as teams battled it out in the spirit of teamwork, tactical thinking, and a bit of competitiveness (okay, a lot).

The top three teams made it through to the giant crystal finale, where tokens flew, adrenaline spiked, and only one team emerged victorious — scooping the top prize and, of course, the ultimate bragging rights. 🏆

A feast and a few happy tears

After all the excitement, we tucked into a delicious three-course meal, where laughter echoed across the lawn, and maybe one or two people tried to negotiate swaps for extra roast chicken (no judgement here).

As ever, our favourite part of any quarterly event followed: the shout-outs and internal promotions. A moment to shine a light on those going above and beyond, and a real reminder of the talent, heart and hustle across the business.

Celebrating five years of Employee Ownership 🎉

In 2020, we became the first tech company of our kind to become Employee Owned — a bold move that reflected our belief in shared success and long-term thinking. Five years on, that decision continues to shape our culture, our work, and our future.

We became Employee Owned because we believe great work comes from empowered people. For our team, it means more control, more say, and a stronger sense of belonging. It’s not just a job — we’re invested in the company’s success and in each other. For our clients, that translates to greater flexibility, deeper commitment, and a team that truly cares about the outcome.

Ultimately, we care about the work we do — and that means we approach it with passion, pride, and purpose, not just to hit a target, but because it matters. That’s what being Employee Owned is all about. And five years in, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

As our CEO Rich Pugmire shared:

"Reaching the five-year milestone of employee ownership is a testament to the strength and resilience of our team. This journey has empowered every individual at Answer Digital to think and act like an owner, fostering a culture of shared responsibility and innovation. I'm incredibly proud of how we've maintained our core values while embracing this model, ensuring that our clients benefit from a team that's truly invested in their success. Here's to continuing our growth, together."

Tessa May, our Employee Ownership Trust Director, summed it up beautifully:

"Being Employee Owned really gives us so much more meaning to everything we do, and that comes down to the culture we have built as employee owners of the business."

And as James Page, our Commercial Director, put it best:

“We are masters of our own destiny.”

Here’s to five years of owning it — and many more to come. 💙