What community means to us

Team Thoughts

The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘community’ - this is what it means to us at Zoonou.

Community is where we find belonging, safety, and support. It’s what lifts us during tough times, celebrates with us in the good times, and gives us a sense of purpose. Community can mean something different for everyone - your faith, your hobbies, your passions, your people.

Being part of a community plays a powerful role in supporting metal health. It helps us feel seen, valued, and connected to something bigger than ourselves. 

At Zoonou, connection runs through everything we do - it’s even rooted in our new brand identity (which you can read more about in Cass’s recent blog post). It’s how we build community, both inside the company and beyond it. The communities we’re part of – as co-owners, as a B Corp, through local partnerships and client relationships – are at the heart of who we are. 

Employee ownership: a shared responsibility

When we became employee-owned, we didn't just gain new titles as co-owners - we gained a shared purpose. Every one of us has a real stake in Zoonou’s future, and the power to influence it.

Last year, we held company-wide sessions to review and refresh our employee benefits. Together, we identified what mattered most and introduced three new initiatives: a personal leave allowance, the option to buy and sell holiday days, and the ability to swap bank holidays to better align with individual religious and cultural celebrations. Ownership strengthens our connection to each other, and to the future we’re building together.

Being a B Corp: using business as a force for good

That same commitment to connection shapes our role as a B Corp, where we believe business should be a force for positive change.

In 2024, we audited our supply chain and, where possible, transitioned to ethical, local suppliers. This change will help us cut our environmental footprint and reinvest more directly into our local economy. As part of the B Corp community, we’re constantly challenged to connect our decisions to creating a positive impact on both people and the planet.

Giving back to our local community

We believe that if you want to belong to a community, you need to show up for it.

Through our employee volunteering programme, we’ve supported Treebourne’s work to restore local wildlife habitats, contributing to the 22,000+ trees planted across Eastbourne.

Charlotte and Helen helping to clear a pond with Treebourne

We've also delivered STEM workshops and hosted work experience placements for local schools, with a special focus on encouraging more girls to consider careers in tech. By giving our time and skills, we’re strengthening the connections that make our local community.

Work experience students

Building community with our clients

Our clients are more than customers - they’re an extension of the Zoonou community. Many of our new opportunities come from client referrals, a reflection of the strong, trusted relationships we build. We’re proud to still be working with some of the same clients who first partnered with us years ago - growing together, adapting together, and achieving more, together.

Creating connections and building communities

True community is built from everyday actions. As one of our Mental Health First Aider’s, it’s something I think about every day. Whether it’s checking in with a teammate, organising a volunteering day, or building connections across the business, I see the power of community in action all the time.

These everyday moments are what make us stronger, more resilient, and more compassionate. They remind us that when we come together, we become more than just a team - we become a community that lifts each other up and grows together.

About Zoonou

Zoonou is a UK-based software testing company. We’re a B Corp and 100% employee owned. Combining technical delivery and advisory services, we collaborate with the private, public and third sectors to create better software, services and products.

Published by Ashleigh Ridler

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