Founded 15 years ago, The Distance is one of the growing number of tech companies to call York home. We caught up with founder Anthony Main to find out how being a part of the Good Business Charter (GBC) has given his business a framework to consolidate their core values.
Now employing around ten staff, The Distance has become a leading name in developing user-friendly apps. Their work has included designing apps for transport, healthcare and education, with clients ranging from LNER to Slimming World and the NHS.
Computing has long been a passion for founder Anthony Main, who describes how he was “born with 1s and 0s in my blood.” A self-confessed “computer geek” from childhood, Anthony grew up around coding and computers - so it came as no surprise when, after university, he embarked on a career in tech.
Anthony signed his business up to the GBC when the movement was still in its early days, having heard about it through networking with other members of York’s business community and realising that it aligned with the values he’d always held.
The GBC requires businesses to demonstrate their commitment to employee well-being and representation. Explaining how this fits in with his company ethos, Anthony Main founder of The Distance explains:
From day one, The Distance has always been about culture. My unwritten rule has always been that I wanted to create a workplace where everyone wants to be, and where no-one wants to leave.
“We want to be totally transparent with everyone who works here and it’s important that everyone has a say in how we work and that we take the views of our staff on board. We have monthly meetings where we give a full company update, making it clear that everyone’s input is welcomed and valued.
“It’s important that we’ve built a culture of trust and respect towards our people - we have a flexible working policy that allows our staff to work the hours that work for them, either in the office or remotely.
Another of the GBC’s 10 core components concerns equality, diversity and inclusion. Anthony is proud that his business has long bucked industry-wide trends by building a diverse workforce. Anthony says:
It’s fair to say that our industry doesn’t have a reputation for being the most diverse place to work, and that’s why we’re very proud that we’ve always sought to build a diverse team.
"We’re very proud to have nearly always had over 40% female employees, and our people come from all around the world. Our diversity is one of our strengths - a wide variety of different experiences and views allows us to make better decisions and to quickly adapt to changes.
Anthony encouraged businesses in the city to consider signing up to the GBC. Anthony says:
Running a responsible, ethical business is no longer a nice-to-have extra, it’s increasingly becoming essential to attract new clients, as well as recruiting and retaining the best employees, whose skills are highly in-demand.
“Being part of the Good Business Charter holds us to account, which is really important. It means that we never take our principles and practices for granted, and every year, we review our membership and ensure that we’re putting the ten components of the Charter into practice.”