Why we ask about your culture before we start a project

Finding the right partner is about more than the brief

At William Joseph we are very specific about the people we work with. We focus our energy on organisations that are having a positive impact on the world.

However, we have learned that shared goals are only half of the picture. To deliver the best work – accessible, inclusive and high-quality – we also need to share a way of working.

We look for partners who want to work in a truly equitable and collaborative process, not just outsource work to a supplier.

To help us find that alignment early on, we ask a few specific questions during the procurement stage. These aren’t tests to pass or fail, but a way to check that our cultures will mesh well enough to succeed.

Openness is the first step towards equity

Do you show salaries on the jobs that you promote? Do you monitor your gender pay gap? If so, what is it?

We ask this because transparency is usually a strong indicator of how much an organisation values equity.

Hiding salaries or keeping pay gaps secret often inadvertently protects inequality.

Conversely, being open with this information, even if the numbers aren’t perfect yet, shows a willingness to be vulnerable in order to be fair.

We find that organisations that prioritise this kind of openness with their own teams are also the ones that treat their partners fairly. It signals a culture built on trust and respect, which is exactly the environment where we can deliver our best value.

Better decisions come from diverse perspectives

What measures have you taken to increase the diversity of your leadership team? What have you done to increase the accessibility of your hiring processes?

We ask this because we are committed to the idea that a diverse set of people make better decisions.

We want to know if you are bought into this way of working too.

When a team is made up of people with different backgrounds and lived experiences, they are less likely to fall into groupthink. They solve problems faster and spot risks earlier.

We do our best work when we partner with organisations that understand the value of this. It means we can have richer, more challenging and ultimately more productive conversations from day one.

Empowered teams drive innovation

What is your highest paid role’s salary as a percentage of your lowest paid role?

This helps us understand your organisational structure. It’s actually taken directly from the B Corp assessment that we have passed to become accredited.

In our experience, the most effective digital transformation happens when people on the front line are empowered to contribute ideas. We often need to work directly with practitioners, not just senior stakeholders.

Organisations with a more balanced structure tend to be better at giving their teams the autonomy needed to test, learn and iterate effectively.

Partnership works both ways

Would you be willing to provide a supplier reference for us to speak to?

We know this is an unusual request. Usually, it is the agency providing references to the client.

We ask this because we want to be the best partner we can be. Speaking to a previous supplier helps us understand how you like to work, how you handle pressure and how you view collaboration.

It helps us prepare to support you properly. It also signals that we view the relationship as a partnership of equals, where both sides are invested in each other’s success.

Building for the long term

What are you doing to monitor and reduce your carbon footprint?

We aim to build sustainable digital products. We want to ensure that the work we do today supports a better future. Aligning on this helps us make technical and design decisions that fit your long-term goals.

Let’s see if we’re a match

We ask these questions to save time for everyone.

If our values and ways of working are aligned, we can hit the ground running. We can trust each other faster and focus entirely on solving the problem at hand.

If you are happy to share how you work, we would love to start a conversation about how we can help you.