Flexible working and investment in staff well-being are just two of the aspects Fleet Alliance employs that could help other companies with the mass transition to successful home-working following the nationwide lockdown.

Fleet Alliance was recently awarded Best Place to Work status for the eighth successive year

Glasgow-headquartered fleet management company Fleet Alliance’s flexibility and working practices have helped it and its staff cope with lockdown and it is now setting an example for others to follow, as a UK Best Places to Work award winner for the eighth successive year.

Managing director Martin Brown said creating excellent conditions in the office workplace meant the company was much better positioned to overcome the stresses of enforced lockdown.

“We continue to find new ways to make our workplace environment better all the time. But that should not stop with lockdown,” commented Brown. “Where possible, we have extended these features to staff who are now working at home or are on furlough during the coronavirus crisis. Now, more than ever, they need our support.”

The Best Places to Work award is judged solely on feedback from staff along with details about the programmes and practices that make the company offer a special workplace, and offer examples that could be mimicked by others.

Scott Ross, people and culture manager at Fleet Alliance, added that assisting staff with some of the side effects of lockdown was a key point. “We have been able to adapt very quickly to the new way of working, which is a tribute to the resilience of our excellent team ethic.

“Because we have invested in the infrastructure to support the well-being of our people, we have been able to hit the ground running and preserve much of what we offer for staff in relation to employee assistance and mental health awareness, the latter being a key emphasis for the business since lockdown started.”

One employee who is benefiting from the Fleet Alliance employee assistance package is sales support team leader Julie Kidd. She recently returned from furlough, is taking advantage of the flexible working arrangement to provide the work/life balance she requires.

“Being able to work four days a week to assist with my childcare requirements has been really useful. It’s taken the stress out of trying to balance my work and my family. The flexibility on offer is really appreciated.”

Martin Brown added: “While the future remains unclear, one thing is certain: we will continue to make sure our employee welfare comes first, wherever they are presently working.”

Fleet Alliance moved 13 places up the Best Places to Work rankings since publication of the 2019 results, which follows the successful integration and completion of its Neva acquisition.