Putting the 'cult' in culture - Anonymous employee Cloud Nine Insight Employee Review

1.0
5 Jan 2022
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

None, it's an odd and oppressive place.

Cons

Employee churn is undoubtedly the highest I've seen at any company. It's a ceaseless cycle of firing, hiring and quitting. The workload is impossible. All shrouded in the façade of "stretching people outside their comfort zone", it's merely an opportunity to squeeze as much labour out of exhausted individuals and underpaying them for the privilege. Capable professionals are set up to fail from Day 1. Many of my colleagues felt they were lied to at interview and regretted joining the company. Unwitting candidates are sold an "opportunity" and tempted in with promises of limitless self-development in a progressive organisation. In reality, it's a chaotic environment where goalposts change daily in line with the CEO's latest fads. Perfection is expected on a Poundland budget, and when the reality of the unsustainable workload eventually hits and good people inevitably fail, the official line to remaining employees is that the departed "didn't believe in themselves" or "didn't work hard enough". The attempts at brainwashing and manipulation are astounding. The CEO's frankly absurd approach to management could almost be ignored if she wasn't grasping every media opportunity to boast about being a great leader. The reality couldn't be more different. She and her second-in-command are an unpleasant duo who treat others with contempt. They won't hesitate to smear any employees past or present, so it creates an oppressive atmosphere that uses fear to keep people in line. Getting closure from this awful place cost my emotional balance, but that's a small price to pay to leave behind an odious manager, meagre salary and laughable benefits.

avatar
Cloud Nine Insight Response
4y
Cloud9 is an unusual company, one driven by purpose and investing in people - not by growth for growth's sake, a place where our ambition is for 100% of employees to receive several promotions, and pay increases - all in line with ambition and value added by each individual. It is very rare for Cloud9 to fire someone, and if someone resigns, it's only because they decided to themselves or decided that they lacked ambition after all and were not in reality seeking to learn new skills. That is ok - there are many companies that would be better positioned to hire those individuals who wanted simply to be taken with existing skills put and put them into square holes where there is no expectation of career or personal growth. Perhaps anyone not working in tech should know it's a fast paced environment, one where you do need to turn up and work. If you're looking for an easy life do not work in tech. All employees are encouraged and supported to have a healthy working work life balance, it's rare for anyone to be in the office beyond 5.15pm, many enjoying the opportunity to work flexibly from home locations and enjoying additional paid-for 'enrichment days' (6 a year) to enjoy for learning, or simply fun time with family and friends. If you're an ambitious individual with a genuine love of learning, and want to be surrounded by others who share this ambition, then Cloud9 is the perfect place. If not, perhaps apply for a real 'job' in a place where you will fit perfectly with your existing skills, and an industry where the pace is slow. The world is changing and if you want to work in a place whose purpose is to support your ambition and you want to learn new skills, there can't be many better places where you will be invested in then Cloud9 Insight.

Explore other reviews about Cloud Nine Insight

4.0
29 Jan 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- Cloud9 has such a welcoming and supportive culture that promotes individual growth and development. - Colleagues genuinely care about your well-being and success. - The workplace is beautiful - Cloud9 has really invested in ensuring employees are comfortable and have the best environment to thrive in. - There is a large number of women in the office, which is typically unusual for the technology industry, and employees have a variety of different backgrounds and cultures, which makes it a great environment to be in. - Due to the collaborative culture, you are always learning new things from others, regardless of which department you're in.

Cons

- As consulting is not something that needs to be done in-office, many employees work from home, meaning the office tends to be quite empty during workdays. This is especially evident given the fact that the company is not large in size. - As a small company, there are lots of things that need to be changed/altered to consistently match the speed of growth. This is exciting but it does mean roles are often more complex and require more than they seem, so responsibility is high.

5.0
12 Jan 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

I have not worked with a company that is as invested in my personal development as I am. Cloud9 is definitley the place to be in order to grow and learn. The concentration of motivated talent present here only adds to the quality of work that is delivered and being able to be a part of that journey is an invaluable experience, especially to those who are just starting out in their careers.

Cons

It is very hard to come up with cons when working here!

1
avatar
Cloud Nine Insight Response
4mo
Thank you for such a thoughtful review. We’re really pleased to hear that you feel supported in your personal development and that your experience so far has been a positive one. Creating an environment where people can learn, grow, and work alongside motivated colleagues is something we care deeply about, and it’s great to know that this is coming through in your day-to-day experience. Thank you for being part of the Cloud9 team.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All