Just over two months ago I joined Tyto PR. We are a new pan-European PR start-up, focusing on the colliding worlds of technology, science, and innovation.
Tyto is my third agency, having been a PR man for just shy of three years. And, though I am no industry veteran, I feel I can say with some degree of certainty that its approach to communications is unique, refreshing and fun.
There was a time, however, when joining a company in its infancy was considered a rare, risky, even foolish move. But this time has passed. Today the UK start-up scene is booming. In fact, in 2017 the number of new tech companies launched nationally rose by almost 60 percent.
This cohort of young companies is now not only the ideal backdrop for developing young professionals’ skills but also to accelerate their business acumen and entrepreneurialism early on.
So, if you are in your twenties, eager to learn and like thinking on your feet, a start-up could be just what you are looking for – here’s why.
Start-ups focus on getting things done
Mark Zuckerberg’s early Facebook mantra of ‘move fast and break things’ definitely rings true. Small firms are agile, can execute faster and are more efficient.
In big organisations, however, implementing contemporary ideas is almost impossible. Bureaucratic hierarchies and entrenched interests constantly slow them down to the point where making those around you aware that work is being done becomes a better strategy for career advancement than actually doing it.
The opportunities for learning are endless
Working in a tight-knit team means you learn the ropes quickly. There is every chance you will be exposed to more in your first three weeks than most employees at larger firms will be in their first three years.
You get things wrong, and get things wrong, and get things wrong, to get them right. With this exposure comes increased responsibility, which acts as a catalyst for learning.
You will have a say in the direction of the company
The low headcount means your opinion will count for something and you will not just be making up the numbers.
Every single employee is valued, and their expertise respected. Small teams tend to have flatter structures, meaning there will be far more opportunity for you to weigh in on the company’s future.
Flexible working is done properly
When you are young, you are less likely to have a mortgage or a family to distract you from your professional goals. You may want to avoid London rent prices by living up North. Or you might want to live in Prague, or Paris, or Florence for a month.
Start-ups can integrate technology company-wide that makes it possible for you to sit anywhere you like, so long as the work gets done.
One-third of a person’s life is spent at work. From an early age, surely you want to ensure that that time is spent doing something you are passionate about and shaping the way you do it. For that unified sense of purpose and shared camaraderie, look no further than the start-up.