Horrendous company with a toxic work environment - Assistant Producer Cowshed Collective Employee Review

Not a single good word to say about them sadly.

I worked on a cursed cowshed production and wasn't paid for 9+ months. I was ghosted by various team members (including founders) whilst chasing payment, but they suddenly paid up within days after lawyers were involved. I've spoken to various other freelancers and suppliers who were in the same boat as me so this is clearly not an isolated incident.

Some good people and interesting jobs

From the outside, the company projects a vibrant image, young, fast-moving, full of opportunity. However, the reality on the inside tells a very different story. Cowshed suffers from a chronic lack of structure, clear processes, and mature leadership. Despite branding itself as a strategic powerhouse in social and communications, the internal operation is disorganised and often overwhelmed. What’s more concerning is that these issues are not isolated or occasional, they are systemic. I’ve connected with others who have worked at, or with the company, from when they first started, to now and the patterns are alarmingly consistent: high staff turnover, late payments, poor communication, and a toxic masc culture. Much of this stems from the company’s leadership. The owners, Ryan and George fail as leaders. Ryan and CEO George Cowin have gained a reputation across the industry for being defensive, dishonest, dismissive, and unwilling to accept responsibility. They unfortunately, are widely disliked. While they present well at first, when pressure mounts, the reality becomes alarmingly clear. Mistakes are met with blame shifting, often onto their own clients, partners, or staff, rather than any form of introspection and/or very poor excuses. Constructive feedback is seen as an attack and routinely ignored or weaponised, creating an environment where people feel unheard and undervalued. There are talented individuals within the team. Without serious reflection and fundamental change at the top, the dysfunction will continue and so will the damage to its reputation, both internally and across the wider industry. If you're considering a role here, I strongly advise you to speak to former employees, ask direct questions, and approach with caution.