5 Squirrels

What is 5 Squirrels?

5 Squirrels is a Brighton-based company that helps skincare professionals launch their own brand skincare products. Founded in 2014, the company provides a one-stop-shop service covering every stage of the product development journey — from formulation and manufacturing to packaging, branding, and launch support.

5 Squirrels has built a strong reputation in the beauty and skincare industry by making it accessible for therapists, aestheticians, and skincare entrepreneurs to create high-quality branded products without needing their own manufacturing facilities. The company has been recognised with 4 Day Week Foundation Gold accreditation and was named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2025 winner.

Where will I work?

5 Squirrels is based at Unit 8, Industrial House, Conway Street, Hove, BN3 3LW in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex. As a physical product business involving formulation, manufacturing, and packaging, roles are predominantly on-site at the Brighton facility. The workspace includes both office areas and manufacturing/laboratory spaces where products are developed and produced.

What is the team like?

With approximately 9 employees, 5 Squirrels is a small, close-knit team that combines expertise in skincare formulation, manufacturing, brand development, and customer support. The company has a hands-on culture where team members are directly involved in helping clients bring their skincare brands to life.

The Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2025 recognition reflects a workplace culture that genuinely prioritises employee satisfaction and wellbeing, which is particularly impressive for a small manufacturing business.

Work-Life Balance

5 Squirrels operates a genuine 4-day working week at 32 hours per week with full pay. The company has achieved 4 Day Week Foundation Gold accreditation, the highest level of recognition for organisations that have successfully adopted a reduced-hours model without any reduction in pay or benefits.

For a physical product business with manufacturing operations, adopting a 4-day week is a particularly notable achievement. It demonstrates that the model works beyond desk-based roles and can be successfully implemented in hands-on production environments. The company's recognition as a Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2025 further validates this approach.

Perks and Benefits

• 4-day working week at full pay (32 hours)
• 4 Day Week Foundation Gold accredited
• Sunday Times Best Place to Work 2025
• Professional development opportunities
• Small team with a supportive, hands-on culture