Experiential events agency Principal Global Events has earned a spot on two prestigious ‘Great Place to Work’ lists.
The agency was recognised in both the UK’s Best Workplaces in Retail, Hospitality & Leisure 2025 (Small & Medium) and UK’s Best Workplaces for Women 2025 (Small) rankings.
Speaking to Conference News, Rachel Wilde, director at Principal Global Events, reflected on what the accolades mean for the company and how they showcase the agency’s culture and values.
She said: “This recognition is based on how our team feel about working at Principal. They took the time to share their thoughts, which makes it feel extra special and meaningful. Our internal culture is inclusive; we know difference is our strength, and we work hard to ensure everyone across the agency feels seen, heard and inspired to learn, thrive and grow.”
Principal’s workplace culture is underpinned by a strong set of values, which extend beyond event delivery. Alongside a client-first mindset, creativity and executional excellence, the agency invests heavily in education, training and development pathways to ensure employees feel supported and confident in their roles.
Wilde explained. “Many of our values go beyond events. They include communication, integrity and trust, responsible leadership, and passion and enjoyment. We take our work very seriously, but we also know how important it is to have fun along the way.”
Principal also champions culture-building through a range of innovative initiatives. Its newly launched XChange Board is designed to bridge the gap between rising talent and senior leadership, giving emerging voices a direct platform to shape the agency’s future.
Alongside this, The Green Room, a team of sustainability leaders, has been active for two years, developing Principal’s Environmental Management System, embedding its principles across the business, and sharing their expertise on industry stages. Meanwhile, The Social Space puts wellbeing at the centre of workplace life, creating opportunities for colleagues to connect, recharge and build relationships both inside and outside of work.
The Best Workplaces for Women award recognises how Principal supports its female employees at every stage of their careers.
Wilde said: “We’ve always had a strong, culturally diverse team of women across the business, from interns to department heads and directors. Many of our senior female leaders started as juniors with us, and our focus has been on mentoring and inspiring them to grow into leadership roles. We’re proud to offer a culture where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.”
The agency also has policies in place to support women navigating changes in their personal circumstances. Wilde says: “Sometimes this can happen when someone feels they’re at the peak of their career. It can feel difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. We make sure colleagues can continue to progress while balancing home life. Events aren’t just about hopping on a plane at a moment’s notice – there’s so much more to our industry. This approach has been key to retaining and supporting some of our most talented women.”
Leadership, Wilde emphasised, plays a vital role in maintaining this culture: “Leading responsibly, ethically and transparently and being able to clearly communicate our values contributes hugely to sustaining our workplace culture.”
Principal’s commitment is reflected in its retention rates, with many senior team members having achieved ten years of service or more. Wilde added: “Our values and culture are central to this. We’ve refreshed them over time, but we’ve stayed true to our core principles since the beginning. What’s changed is how clearly we’re now able to articulate them.”
She concluded: “It’s one of the most important things – how we think, feel and behave, and everything it means to work at Principal.”
Beyond the recognition, Wilde stressed that the survey process itself has been invaluable. “It’s given us the chance to understand what our colleagues love, but also where we can improve and innovate,” she said. “Listening means we can empower the whole team and remain incredibly dynamic.”