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The Future Laboratory

Is this your company?

HORRENDOUS! Do not apply for a job here. Horrible, nasty environment. - Anonymous employee The Future Laboratory Employee Review

1.0
23 Sept 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

There's a (very depressed) office dog. Despite the senior members of staff there are some lovely people that work there. You'll bond over your feelings of worthlessness and your mutual despair.

Cons

Pay. Awful hierarchy masquerading as a 'family' - which is little more than playground politics. The senior members of staff seem to value progression on how often you get drunk on a Friday with them vs actual hard work. You won't progress. Like at all. Despite the website saying they 'nurture talent'. Do not get sucked into the pretentious long worded descriptions of 'life at the lab' - it's a literal hell hole. You'll get paid next to nothing to sell your soul with zero progression and just when you think you're due a promotion/pay rise you'll be made redundant anyway. Also don't be fooled by the old townhouse style office building. It's falling apart at the seams. The rooms are small which means the company is completely segregated. Oh and it's overrun with rats and mice which senior members of staff seem to think adds to the charm of the place but actually is completely unsanitary.

Explore other reviews about The Future Laboratory

5.0
4 Oct 2017
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

-Brilliant people and perspectives -Interesting projects -Learned a different way to think

Cons

-Pay wasn't as competitive -Didn't always feel heard by leadership

3.0
21 Apr 2026
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

- The projects are genuinely interesting, and The Future Laboratory is a strong name to have on your CV, particularly for building connections across agencies and brands. - You learn a huge amount, largely because teams are stretched and people often do the work of two roles. You build skills fast. I was often amazed by how much work is delivered by so few people. - There are people who are genuinely committed to making it a better place to work, but those efforts tend to come from the bottom up, not the top down. - For some, it can be a great learning environment. For many, it is difficult to sustain long-term. - I would recommend working there for a year or 18 months to absorb as much as you can, then taking those skills elsewhere where they are likely to be better rewarded.

Cons

- There is a real burnout culture. The environment often feels like 24/7 chaos, with constant stress driven by commercial pressure and lack of resources. - There can be a strong blame culture, with responsibility not always owned at leadership level and pressure often pushed downwards. - Salary is extremely low for the amount of work expected. Long hours are normal, especially for sales and PM employees managing clients across multiple time zones. No bonuses. Promotion pathways can feel inconsistent, with some employees staying in the same role for four years while others appear to progress every two years. - There is also too much reliance on stories of past success rather than enough focus on what the current team needs to succeed now. That nostalgia can become frustrating.

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