Careers

Working at ARA Venn

“Our employees are our most valued resource and we have nurtured a team of highly capable, skilled and motivated individuals to drive growth and deliver results for our stakeholders. We strive to be an employer of choice, by creating a workplace environment that promotes diversity, equality, development, trust and teamwork.”

Gary McKenzie-Smith, Managing Partner and Head of Residential Mortgage Lending

Employees work within one of the Firm’s business areas or in a diverse range of functions in our Operations Team.

Our working environment is collegiate and supportive, with a strong team ethos. The Firm actively supports the development of its employees through a range of initiatives within both the business and the communities in which we work.

It is essential that everyone understands how they contribute to the Firm’s success and how to progress their careers. A robust induction programme is in place to ensure new joiners can quickly settle into their new role. Compliance training is carried out at regular intervals and the Firm frequently holds training sessions on issues relevant to the business.

We have adopted a structured appraisal and staff classification system to assist with career progression.

What our employees say…

“We value our employees and have created a supportive environment where they can flourish. Employees are given interesting and challenging work with real opportunities for personal development and career progression.”

Catherine Riley, Chief of Staff

“The culture at ARA Venn is dynamic and hardworking—everyone is encouraged to contribute meaningfully to the Firm’s success regardless of level. The work strikes the balance of being interesting and challenging, but always with enough support to be able to develop and grow with the Firm.”

Vicky To, Vice President, Residential Lending Team, Joined 2019

“At ARA Venn, each team member has the opportunity to contribute and grow. It’s a workplace where objectives are balanced with support, fostering a culture of growth and collaboration. It’s an enjoyable place to work knowing I have the backing and resources necessary for both professional and personal development.”

Matthew Boyle, Associate, Residential Lending Team, Joined 2023

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer and believe that a diverse workforce promotes innovation and growth through independent thinking and new ideas.

The Firm’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy outlines that all employees (temporary and permanent), partners, contract workers and job applicants are treated fairly and are offered equal opportunities in selection, training, career development, promotion and remuneration.  We are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation, marital status, or race, or is in any way disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Diversity & Inclusion

We work with integrity and respect for each other, our partners, our investors and the surrounding communities.

ARA Venn is committed to providing its employees with an inclusive and diverse work environment and empowering them to learn and grow with the organisation. Working towards improving performance around diversity is not just good practice and the right approach but is also critical to our business, to attract the best talent and to understand and better serve our clients’ needs.

We have a dedicated Diversity & Inclusivity Committee, which meets regularly to discuss and implement various policies and initiatives to ensure inclusion and diversity principles are embedded across the firm. We also now have a dedicated women’s group which meets periodically with the purpose of providing a support network, boosting personal development and sharing experiences in an informal and friendly environment.

In addition to implementing diversity initiatives internally, we are also seeking to support diversity in the wider community. We’ve celebrated International Women’s Day and have supported Smart Works, a charity that seeks to encourage and support disadvantaged women seeking to return to work.

We have also encouraged employees to sign up to Inspiring the Future, a charity which seeks to inspire young people, by connecting volunteers with state schools and colleges to talk to young people about their careers. This excellent charity supports diversity by seeking to broaden the horizons of thousands of children across the UK by giving them the opportunity to meet a wide range of role models to inspire and motivate them.

Employee Health & Wellbeing

We have several initiatives in place at our office that promote employee safety and wellbeing. These include comprehensive medical coverage, healthy snacks in the kitchen, and procedures to promote building safety.

Whilst we operate in a hard-working industry, the Firm also aims to promote a positive work-life balance and encourages staff to lead an active and healthy lifestyle. We organise various employee wellness activities, including sport and fitness events involving weekly cross-training and yoga classes in the nearby private gardens. We also participate in the Government’s Cycle to Work Scheme. As a close-knit team, we organise many social events including our annual birthday party which always involves an entertaining team activity (from puzzle parlours to water inflatables).

Whilst we place a high value on close teamwork and collaboration, we have learned during the pandemic the importance and mutual benefits of working from home, and as a general policy we intend to allow all staff to work from home at least one day per week. We are also willing to considering flexible working arrangements with team members on a case-by-case basis.

ARA Venn celebrating its 11th Birthday with an offsite in the Surrey Hills.

Community Involvement

ARA Venn participating in the Thames River Charity Clean-up in July 2021.

We believe that a successful corporation is not only defined by its business needs and achievements, but also by the positive role that it can play in the community. ARA Venn’s employees are therefore encouraged to participate in various charitable causes arranged by the ESG committee as part of the Firm’s 1-1-1 initiative. This helps to foster collaboration and enhance team spirit, whilst also supporting a wide range of superb initiatives.

Career Opportunities

There are no current vacancies.