Associates
Specialist skills,
outstanding results
Nile is proud to work with a global community of designers, researchers and futurists.
We work in heavily regulated industries, solving some of today’s most complex design challenges.
To do this, we’re proud to be supported by some of the best associates in the business.
Associates turbocharge our work
Nile works across multiple sectors, addressing varied challenges, and flexing our approach and toolset to meet each client’s unique needs.
To work in this way, our core team have built longstanding relationships with a wide range of talented associates based in the UK and around the world. We bring in their skills and deep expertise to support specialist projects and deliver remarkable outcomes for our clients.
Many have worked alongside us for years. None of them are ‘just contractors’. We call them associates.
It’s such a treat to work with reliable people who are good at what they do and work smart. Nile people just get it.Associate Designer
Stats from last year:
61
Nile associates on projects
51
different teams supported
16
different clients
I’ve worked with many agencies in my 22 years in digital: AKQA, Sapient, Fjord (Accenture) and Saatchi to name a few. Nile is absolutely up there with the best of them.Associate Design Director
Why we’re different
Benefits of working with Nile
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14 day payment terms
We know what it’s like to wait ages for payment from your clients, and vowed long ago that we’d never pass that pain on. Get paid in two weeks, if not faster.
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Referral bonuses
Many of our best hires, top-performing associates and most valuable clients were introduced to us through our associate network. You know people we don’t, and we reward good referrals.
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Preferential selection
Once we know you, we like to keep you close. Associates get first refusal on follow-on projects at the end of any Nile engagement. Many of our associates come back to Nile again and again.
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And yes. We actually understand IR35
Outcomes-based. Deliverables driven. You’re in control. We understand what it means for engagements to be outside IR35, and ensure the measures we take are far more than just words in a statement of work.
It has been refreshing to work with a team like Nile. They add value not only to clients, but to the associates they work with too. That’s a rare thing.Associate Principal Researcher
Most associates work with us again and again
Meaningful work. Mutual respect. Camaraderie. You’re never ‘just a contractor’ when you’re working with Nile.
Get in touch with Susie or Laura find out why associates love working with us.
Head of Talent
Susie Walker
Susie leads our talent operations, and is Nile’s expert at finding outstanding, mission-focused people to match with meaningful and impactful work.
Talent Manager & Executive Assistant
Laura Sheen
Laura supports our associate teams, and assists our executive group at Nile. Having lead research and marketing for several big brands before joining Nile, she’s focused on helping high performing teams find success.
I strongly believe in Nile’s vision and love how they treat their team, clients and associates. I’ve referred a number of fellow freelancers to work with Nile.Associate Design Lead
Small things, big differences
Why associates say they love us
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Onboarding. Done properly
Nobody performs when they’re thrown in at the deep end. We take time to introduce you to the team, the tools, the project, and learn about you and your working style.
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Variety
We work with everyone from banks to start-ups, universities to government institutions, working on diverse problems and interesting challenges.
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Small teams
We often say that ‘being small is our superpower.’ We use small teams to solve big problems. That means you’ll never feel like a small cog in a big machine.
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Great people
We’ve got a ‘no jerks’ policy when it comes to hiring people, picking clients, and partnering with associates. And it pays off: you’ll get to work with some of the kindest, cleverest people, solving interesting problems, for worthwhile clients.
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Events
We’re sociable, and we like to get together. Nile hosts associate meet-ups throughout the year, in various different cities. There’s usually money behind the bar, too.
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Merch
Arguably some of the rarest items of couture in existence, Nile’s famous hoodies are gifted to associates when they’ve worked multiple gigs with us.
The core team
Nice to meet you
Nilers come from an eclectic mix of backgrounds, bringing diverse perspectives to big problems.
Meet the people who make Nile an inspiring partner to work with.
The CoFoundry
We’re backing big ideas we believe can change the world
Innovation is broken. We’re changing the game.
We support changemakers in start-ups, scale-ups, and corporate innovation teams through the Nile CoFoundry, using novel and flexible funding models to deliver early stage design interventions.