Since our inception in 2011, UP has pioneered our unique E-PLOYMENT® model, which sees the agency operate a primarily cloud-based model. An operating model that our team members wholly embrace and one that provides our clients with countless benefits.
The productivity levels of office versus home-working continues to be called into question in the news agenda and shows no sign of abating. Least not when many high profile figures continue to wax lyrical about their stance on the matter. Businessman Elon Musk and Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, are just two of the influential figures often citing remote working as a blocker to innovation and creativity.
Another reason often quoted by critics of home working is that it stifles productivity. However, recent University of South Australia research reported by King’s College London found the opposite—that working from home had no impact on performance. In fact, it showed the format could considerably enhance productivity.
UP’s innovative E-PLOYMENT® model provides team members with the support of employment, albeit on their own terms.
“I like to think of us at UP as pioneers of remote working - our team members all primarily work remotely around the world – so we know a thing or two about it.”
Julian Stubbs, Founder of UP There, Everywhere.
We’ve also received external validation of the positive effect of our model. UP recently received a GOLD rating from EcoVadis, the leading sustainability intelligence platform, with an Ethics score of 91/100, placing UP in the ‘Outstanding’ category for our labour and human rights initiatives.
However, it doesn’t solely benefit our people; it also provides innumerable benefits for our clients. It’s a given that clients wish to liaise with motivated and engaged teams. However, what matters most from a client perspective is ultimately the ROI and results that our work delivers.
The benefits of UP’s unique operating model for our clients:
- Improved cost efficiency: Our overheads are limited, so these costs aren’t reflected in our fees; we simply hire the space we need, not the fancy extras.
- Chance to work with a diverse community of geographically dispersed team members.
Need a team that can cater to meetings within your timezone - even on a last-minute request? UP has team members across the globe, including in Asia, Finland, Germany, the Middle East, Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA
- Market insight: Diversity brings with it new perspectives and fresh thinking. It also means that we are savvy about cultural differences and ensuring compliance within our clients’ territories
- UP is an exclusive and tight-knit community with hand-picked teams. To join UP team members must twice be recommended (by a client or an existing UP member).
As our recent EcoVadis GOLD rating clearly demonstrates, our team members embrace the flexibility and freedom that our model provides.
You needn’t just take our Founder’s word for it, either; here we showcase two team members’ reasons for joining UP.
UP’s model benefits people and enhances performance alike.
Rachel Millar, a Sweden-based Project Manager, recently returned to UP after a stint with an in-house employer and explains her reasons for rejoining:
How long were you an UP team member for previously?
For just over 3.5 years.
What was it about UP's operating model that appealed to you to return?
I’ve worked across many work environments — and what makes UP stand out is how deeply the flexible remote-working model trusts people to shape their own way of working. You’re not bound by restrictive systems or office hours; you're given the responsibility to choose your tools, your setup, and your rhythm.
UP’s model doesn’t ask you to compromise your life to fit work — it moves with you. That kind of flexibility is rare, incredibly empowering – and ultimately leads to a far better output for team members and clients alike.
Life comes with big shifts — a partner’s job in a new country, family changes, the desire to relocate — and often, work becomes the thing that holds people back. Starting over professionally can feel daunting, and it stops many from exploring new paths. What I love about the remote-working element of UP is that it removes that friction; your job travels with you. Your career doesn’t need to pause or bend just because your lifestyle does. And honestly, why shouldn’t it be normal to block off Monday mornings for focus, or take Friday afternoons off if the week’s gone well? That kind of autonomy isn’t just a perk — it’s a mindset. And, in my opinion, it leads to better work, done with more care.
What in your opinion are the advantages of UP’s model for clients?
The global reach of UP’s global presence means we’re not limited by geography — we can always select the best person for the task. It also allows for smart, time-zone-based collaboration; if something is urgent, we can make progress overnight by looping in team members across the globe. That speed and flexibility without compromising quality, can be game-changing for clients.
And… for you as a team member?
As a project manager, I’m constantly balancing timelines, team well-being and delivery quality. UP’s model gives me more tools to meet those competing demands — I can source from a broader pool of talent and timelines become more fluid across time zones. That means I can say yes to a client's tight deadline more often without compromising quality or risking overloading my team.
From a CSR / environmental perspective – was it the limited commuting or the flexibility that appealed most?
Honestly, it’s both. The environmental and personal cost of daily commuting adds up — in mental cost, in time, and in carbon footprint. If I start my day with a peaceful walk, a proper breakfast, and time with my family, I show up focused and grounded. Compare that to waking two hours earlier to rush through traffic or having sat on a packed train, already overstimulated before work has even begun — the difference in my clarity and performance is massive.
Now over to Simon Etchells, Head of UP Finland.
How long have you been an UP team member?
I have now been with UP for over four years. Time flies!
Why did UP's operating model appeal to you?
There were several factors - the flexibility, variety, and feeling of being an entrepreneur while being part of a team. At UP, you have the freedom to enjoy life as you would want, while you absolutely feel responsible for delivering and supporting work for a committed team of people who ultimately become your friends.
What are the advantages of UP’s model for clients?
There is such a vast pool of talent, experience and cultures that operate in harmony rather than competition. Our clients are truly important to us, both professionally and personally. We all take pride in doing our best work. And of course, the business model means that our customers (as I prefer to call them) receive exceptional value, and we always surpass expectations.
What are the advantages of UP’s model for team members?
Working from home and being available as needed during the day helps and supports my family tremendously. My wife has a demanding full-time role, and one of our children needs extra support with schoolwork and activities (she has ADHD and the ability to be physically available and focus on her means the world of difference for her and the family). This care flows into my work and emphasises that everyone, including our clients, have lives outside of work, and so we must nurture them, as we nurture any relationship.
As mentioned, there were many factors that influenced my decision to apply to UP. However, over time, the increasing understanding and importance of our limited environmental impact and our dedication to sustainability have given even more meaning to our unique operating model.
The most successful companies will undoubtedly be those that remain flexible, listen to their people’s needs and adapt their models based on evidence rather than on unsupported assumptions about what constitutes an efficient business model. We believe that we have achieved exactly this at UP.
To learn more about how UP’s unique model could deliver tangible results and to meet more of our team, please contact us.