Ninety One prides itself on it's 'golden culture thread' and does not have policies or job titles. This is fine for a start up but not for a large business which it now is. They do not have written policies which does make the place less bureaucratic but has led to a mixed messages and an informal structure to develop. The lack of job titles frustrates rather than helps progression, traps people from external movement. On hybrid working, the senior management have clearly decided they want minimal home working. They have 'suggested' people need to come into the office more but have not been adult and just sent an email. Generally the company has landed on 3 days a week in the office but that is clearly not enough for management. Instead they subtly bully and send 'signals' down management chains. They needs to be adult, do they want people in? If they do, say so, ask, send an email. I am so sick of this 'read the vibe' approach which is actually more stressful. By trying to treat people like adults, they have actually ended up treating people like children. They should be adult enough to realise they will take the hit on some staff leaving and just do it. They want it all ways but are not gutsy enough to say.
Travel is another example of no policy. Senior and middle management treat the London-Cape Town route like it is for jollies when the weather changes, flying business class. If you are junior, you are less likely to travel amd will do so indirectly in economy. Genuinely this is the only place I have worked where where the way you travel reflects your self-importance and is not driven at all by business need. Bizarre.
On the face of it, Ninety One is great for diversity, you will see lots of woman, racial diversity and a mix of ages which is good for the City. Look harder and you will see cliques of straight, white middle-aged South African men, some clearly tokenistic senior appointments which demotivates large groups and destroys genuine diversity. Being South African in origin so clearly and obviously allows progression. Also the lack of policies/ data/ tracking has led to hostile pockets. This company is hostile to LGBT groups. A token, inactive, unsupported employee group masks total lack of representation and shockingly open hostility to the (again shockingly few) LGBT staff members.
The company is currently drifting, there is no direction from senior and middle management. No new blood is brought in. There are many positive aspects to this company but I would advise probing future prospects if you are looking for development.
