Why Klarian is One of the UK’s Most Loved Workplaces.
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How a data-focused company created a thriving workplace culture while transforming pipeline infrastructure for a more sustainable planet
When Klarian effectively relaunched in January 2022, they had a clear mission: to optimise pipeline infrastructure for a more sustainable planet. As an agile data company specializing in transforming pipeline efficiency, Klarian collects pipeline data and converts it into performance clarity, helping clients achieve social, environmental, and financial benefits.
"We are driven by the need to maintain the integrity of vital pipelines that transport the world's precious resources, for the good of the planet. The leadership team knew that creating innovative pipeline optimisation technology would require more than sophisticated algorithms and engineering expertise. It would demand a workplace culture specifically designed to create innovation, collaboration, and purpose.
"We are trying to build the strongest possible culture that will enable us to meet our strategic objectives, our mission, our desire to build a successful and commercially viable company and help our people achieve their own personal and career goals whilst having as much fun and reward as is possible," explains a senior leader at Klarian.
This deliberate focus on culture has become a guiding principle for the company, which specializes in data-driven solutions for pipeline infrastructure. Klarian's sophisticated systems combine historical and real-time data to optimize performance, bringing together engineering principles with AI and machine learning to enhance operational efficiency while minimising downtime, costs, and energy consumption.
The company's flagship product, Juno, serves as a decision-support platform for pipeline operators, while their Orkus system harnesses earth sciences and spatial data for proactive geohazard risk management. Both reflect Klarian's core mission: optimising pipeline infrastructure for a more sustainable planet. What stands out about Klarian is how thoroughly they've integrated their cultural values into their operational approach. The team has built their culture on trust, belief, drive, hard work, thinking, caring, and openness—values that align directly with their technical objectives of transforming pipeline efficiency.
"Trust is critical to everything we do and comes from an environment where integrity, honesty and accountability are lived values from the leadership down through every level of the business," says a team member. "Trust is at the heart of high performing teams and we aspire to achieve it."
Rob Clegg, CEO
This focus on trust extends to how the company approaches their work. Their data scientists and engineers understand that data serves as fuel for their true product: insight. The richer the data, the more powerful their insights become for clients seeking to maintain the integrity of vital pipelines that transport the world's precious resources. Klarian has created an environment where team members experience a range of positive emotions about their work. "Pride. Commitment. Enjoyment. Rewarded. Belonging. Member of a really unique and special team. Friendship. Achievement. These are some of the feelings we believe we already have and encourage amongst our staff," notes the leadership team.
These feelings stem from multiple sources: the culture they've built, the solutions they develop, and seeing real-world impact as their products deliver material improvements in clients' environmental and efficiency performance. The company also builds these positive experiences through flexibility, allowing team members to work in ways that accommodate their lives while coming together for social occasions and authentic self-expression.
Diversity stands as another cornerstone of Klarian's approach to talent. They seek to build teams with participation from people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and outlooks. The ideal Klarian team member brings a high level of drive and interest, thrives in sometimes ambiguous environments, adapts readily to change, and excels at solving complex problems collaboratively.
"We have to roll our sleeves up on occasion and get things done that may be outside our job description—that is ok and good. Our team members do this willingly and we see a sense of achievement and satisfaction when these things all come together," explains a leader. This approach to talent and culture has yielded impressive retention results. The company invests significant time and effort in creating the right environment, and team members tend to stay. Even more telling is their success in recruitment: once potential employees engage with Klarian's process, meeting colleagues and seeing the business from multiple angles, acceptance rates for offers are remarkably high.
This cultural foundation has positioned Klarian on the Breakthrough Culture Award list, recognizing them as one of the UK's most loved companies to work for. The recognition validates their belief that the culture they build directly impacts their ability to solve some of the most complex challenges in industry.
For Klarian, one thought lies at the heart of everything they do: To optimize pipeline infrastructure for a more sustainable planet. Their recognition for workplace culture demonstrates that they've applied this same protective mindset to their most valuable asset—their people.
As the energy industry faces enormous challenges and opportunities, Klarian continues to share their thinking about pipelines, industrial digitalisation, sustainability, AI, machine learning, edge computing, and the future of industry. Their success shows how a deliberate focus on workplace culture can drive technological innovation with meaningful environmental impact.
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