Blue Zoo Productions

• Tom Box, Oli Hyatt and Adam Shaw, co-founders and executive producers

Yes, the studio has a training budget and we review our needs each year. In 2018 and 2019, there was creative team leader training available for staff. We also support our administration teams, such as finance and HR, with professional education and run sessions using our internal expertise.

Yes, our working hours are 10am to 6pm to help staff skip the London rush hour. The main studio hours are 10.30am to 4.30pm, so staff can flex their hours around those core times.

Success at Blue Zoo is never taken for granted and celebration is definitely not reserved for the higher-ups. Twice a year, we throw a Friday showing in our local cinema, where all staff members can showcase work they are proud of.

Wrap parties take place for every series end, and we also offer a profit-sharing scheme for staff who have been in the studio for more than a year.

We have an employee assistance programme that offers free confidential support and telephone counselling for issues such as finances, legal, housing and stress.

Staff have three reset days a year they can take if they feel things are too much for them. We also have wellness activities such as a running club, fresh fruit and free breakfast, as well as subsidised chair massages.

We work tirelessly to push the UK animation industry forward, having established AnimationUK in 2008. The studio works with ACCESS:VFX, ScreenSkills, NextGen Skills Academy, Animated Women and many festivals, colleges and universities to ensure an inclusive future for the industry.

We have also run ‘know your bias’ training for staff involved in recruitment. This has resulted in a 50/50 gender split.