Swindon-based creative agency GEL Studios has won an international award recognising its people-first approach to running the business.
The agency has been named a winner at the Haier Zero Distance Excellence (ZeroDX) Awards, which recognise organisations using the principles of ‘Zero Distance’ to develop closer relationships between employees and customers.
The awards are run in collaboration with the Haier Model Institute and Business Ecosystem Alliance and highlight businesses that challenge traditional organisational structures while giving greater responsibility to the people closest to the work.
For GEL Studios, the award reflects more than a decade of developing a different approach to management, with employees given greater ownership and accountability for their work and relationships with clients.
The agency has developed its operations around direct client engagement and self-managing teams, following work with Simon Reindl, CEO of Advanced Product Delivery.
Rather than relying on traditional layers of management, GEL Studios encourages team members to take responsibility for client relationships and the outcomes they deliver.
The company says this approach has helped support employee retention and client satisfaction, while also strengthening its relationships with charities and community organisations.
The business model has continued to evolve as GEL Studios has grown, with the agency seeking to combine commercial success with its focus on people, community and responsible business.
Founder and Managing Director Graeme Leighfield said the award was particularly significant because it recognised an approach the agency had spent years developing.
“Winning this award is incredibly special because it validates a way of doing business we’ve believed in for years,” he said.
“While many organisations still operate through layers of hierarchy, we’ve worked hard to build an environment where people are trusted to make decisions, solve problems and create value directly for clients.”
He said receiving recognition internationally was an achievement for the whole team.
“To see that recognised on a global stage is a fantastic achievement for our team,” he added.
GEL Studios said the award would encourage the agency to continue developing its approach and demonstrate how businesses can give employees greater ownership while building strong relationships with customers and their wider communities.
The ZeroDX recognition comes after more than ten years of organisational development at the Swindon agency, during which it has deliberately challenged conventional approaches to business management.
