Why I chose Birdie, and why I stayed

When I first came across Birdie, I was intrigued by the mission. Just a few months before, my dad and I had been looking for a care home for my grandma, and I’d seen firsthand how difficult that process can be. So, when I saw Birdie’s goal – to transform the lives of older adults and those who care for them – it immediately struck a personal chord.

As I dug deeper, other things stood out. The job description, the website, the posts on LinkedIn… this seemed like a company that genuinely cared about its employees. That passion came across in all their content and the job advert really stood out.

Every conversation during the hiring process felt natural and honest, and we talked openly about the challenges of working at a startup. Everyone was friendly and genuinely curious about my background. The process was longer than others, but I understood why, and it solidified my desire to join.

A typical (but never boring) day

My role sits within the core operations team, which means I get to work closely with people across the entire company: from product and design to data, commercial, and leadership. No two days are quite the same, and that’s what energises me.

My routine is my own. I might go for a run in the morning, but I always block out my calendar to go to the gym at lunchtime. There’s a culture of trust and flexibility here. If I need to take a longer break, no one questions it. In return, if an urgent request comes in on a Friday, people are happy to jump online to help, because we know we can rely on each other. It’s not about working out of hours; it’s about the flexibility to get the job done and have a life outside of it.

That sense of connection is strongest during our social events and annual retreats. I’d heard about the team ski trips before I even joined – a group of colleagues even organised one themselves shortly after I joined. We’ve had improv classes, painting sessions, and even a gardening project is on the way. For me, the retreats are a highlight. As a remote-first company, getting to spend a few days in person with everyone helps build real connections. It means I’m not just ‘the IT guy’ on the other end of a screen; we can have a real chat because we know each other as people.

How I’ve grown

Birdie has a culture of seeing potential and encouraging growth, which has pushed me to develop in ways I hadn’t anticipated. Our former CISO hired me with an awareness of my cybersecurity background, and when he moved on to a new role outside Birdie, he did so with the confidence that I was ready to step up.

He had been mentoring me to take on greater responsibility from the beginning, and I became our lead in compliance, owning major certifications like ISO 27001 and ensuring we were prepared for audits. It was a real learning curve, but one I was equipped to excel in.

Beyond that, I’ve had the chance to run large-scale projects, like implementing new security tooling across the whole company. I enjoy the project management side of things – and the satisfaction of troubleshooting a complex problem that I’ve never seen before.

I’ve always wanted to start my own business one day, and working at a scale-up like Birdie has been the perfect training ground. Seeing how different departments work together has given me a sense of what it takes to build something from the ground up.

The Birdie magic

So what makes Birdie special? For me, it’s the people and the shared sense of purpose. There’s an energy here, driven by a collection of smart, friendly individuals who are all equals, no matter their job title.

We’re not afraid to ask tough questions, and we support each other through uncertainty. When someone’s stuck, we swarm to help. When someone’s thriving, we shout it from the rooftops. That kind of environment isn’t accidental; it’s the result of intentional culture-building, and it’s what makes this place feel different.

If you’re someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, loves solving complex problems, and wants your work to have a real-world impact, there’s a good chance you’ll find your place here, too.

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