A celebration of collaboration, culture and Welshness

Michael Jones, Regional Manager at Sanderson Recruitment, spent the day with us at our Swansea office to join our Saint David’s Day celebration. In this blog post, he reviews the synergies between Sandersons and Perago and what he learned by spending the day with us.

“On the first of March, I got the opportunity to spend the day with one of my exclusive clients, Perago, as they celebrated St Davids day and ‘all things Welsh’, an open day to welcome neighbours and business associates to their brand-new office in the heart of Swansea. They’d arranged random acts of Welshness, Daffodils, Welsh cakes and, of course, my favourite – cheese! 

But really, for me, it was an opportunity to get to know more about the business and, more importantly, the people who make Perago what it is today.  

For the past 18 months, Perago has been more than just a client to me. They have a set of values and principles that resonate deeply with my own. When we first spoke, we shared a commitment to delivering better outcomes through collaboration, communication, working in the open, and putting people first in everything they do. Perago’s commitment to driving digital in Wales by nurturing local talent and helping to develop the skills needed for future generations to succeed was something they were visibly passionate about, a fact that only related more to me. 

As soon as I entered the new office, I felt at home. They have developed a fantastic open-plan office that looks out over Swansea. Vibrant colours, break-out areas, and probably some of the largest white walls I’ve ever seen. Combine that with a really warm welcome filled with smiles and hellos—it made a real impact. 

Whilst the friendliness was abundant, the passion was exciting to see. Every conversation I had made me feel like I could take on the world, from Dave talking about the past, present and future and everything in between to Ty talking about AI in the public sector and Cory talking about the work he’s delivering and the people he’s supporting – everyone was proud of what they’d achieved and loved what they were doing –  this didn’t ‘feel’ like many other companies.  

As I was sitting there, I noticed three things that set them apart: 

1. The people 

Perago has a great mix of people from different backgrounds, cultures, genders, ages, and abilities. They celebrate and leverage their differences to create a more innovative and inclusive environment. As a recruiter, I look for candidates who appreciate diversity and inclusion and can contribute to this culture. 

2. Communication and collaboration 

Perago’s MD has a strong communications background. So, as you’d expect, they have a strong culture of communication and collaboration, which shows in their work, office and how they communicate with each other. Perago encourages people to share their ideas, opinions, and perspectives and work together to solve problems and generate ideas. As a recruiter, I’m always looking for candidates who have strong communication and collaboration skills and who can work well with others for this very reason. 

3. Diversity of work 

Perago’s unique mix of skills, people and experience has led them to exciting opportunities. In my time at their office, I learned that they were involved in everything from large central government departments to local authorities, health and education – that’s without mentioning some quirky stuff that’s also in their pipeline. They seem to challenge themselves to work on different projects and learn from different kinds of clients. 

It was clear to me that everything Perago says it does for its clients is deeply ingrained into its internal operations. You always read about this being important to a brand, but it’s another thing to witness in real life. 

Leaving the office on that sunny Friday afternoon, I felt a profound sense of Welshness – another testament to the company they have built. The plans and what they will achieve excite me to be part of their journey, to the point that I would say they could break out to be the next big brand born out of Wales – a statement I don’t make lightly. 

On St David’s Day, in the heart of Swansea, I witnessed more than just a company; I saw the embodiment of Welsh pride and the power of collaboration.   

Perago’s ethos serves as a beacon of inspiration for all who encounter it, a reminder that success is measured in achievements and the positive impact we leave on others.”