Pros
Worked at Caribtours for over 10 years and (mostly) loved every minute of it. Brilliant, passionate, knowledgeable team; great location in South West London and some standout perks. You always felt like an individual with a stake in the success of the company.
Despite being small, Caribtours has a real ambition to innovate and you always felt motivated to roll up your sleeves and get stuck in and try new things. In my role no two days were ever the same and I got a level of responsibility that would have been impossible in a larger company.
MD is not made from the usual corporate mould and is a true individual. He expects a lot from his staff and has very high standards, but his enthusiasm is infectious and the rewards are there for those willing to buy into his vision.
Cons
Small company equals small budgets and sometimes these didn't match the ambitions of the management team (although it was also a spur to look at problems in a different way). It also limited the amount of money available from staff development.
The relatively flat structure, whilst efficient, limits the potential for advancement within the organisation.
Whilst the location is lovely, my commute became untenable and was one of my main reasons for leaving.