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Motorway service area provider Roadchef has been voted one of the top 25 best big companies to work for in the UK in the best companies awards.

The organisation was placed 22nd on the overall national list, and also made it onto four regional lists of the best companies to work for in the North West, the North East, the Midlands and Scotland.

Roadchef CEO Mark Fox commented: “We are absolutely delighted to feature in the top 25 best big companies to work for in the UK. This award is true recognition of the fantastic people we have working within our business.

“We have always been a company who realises that our people are our most valuable asset and as a result, we are proud to have a highly engaged workforce that believes wholeheartedly in our vision – to destress and delight Britain’s road users – despite the incredibly challenging times we have all faced this year.”

The company’s continued commitment to mental health and wellbeing – pre, during and post the Covid-19 pandemic – was one of the standout areas of success. Over the past year, Roadchef has put its employee’s welfare at the forefront of its business, ensuring that team members feel consistently supported and valued – whether working or on furlough. Throughout the pandemic, everyone was given access to a suite of mental health e-learning modules, as well as an employee wellbeing booklet and a mental health first aid course.

In addition, for employees who were on furlough during the pandemic, the company created a dedicated website that everyone could access at home, providing them with regular updates and answers to Q&As, as well as a direct line to the board where they could raise any concerns.

The company also provided support for employees returning to work after long periods of furlough. An e-learning programme was designed specifically for the business that introduced them to all the new safe ways of working in line with the impact of Covid. In addition, Roadchef created and issued welcome packs when the first period of furlough came to an end, as a ‘welcome back’ for employees to the business.

Commenting on the company’s commitment to their employees during the Covid-19 pandemic, Roadchef’s director of HR and development, Laura Bunn said: “As soon as we realised the pandemic was taking hold – and everything in the world, and workplace was changing – we knew we had to put our people first, to ensure they felt supported. We worked very hard to communicate with our team members, doing our best to understand their concerns and respond to them quickly, while keeping everyone safe, reassured and up to date with the latest regulations and guidance. Our hardship loans were particularly important for some of the employees who were hit hard financially and these were received very positively by those in need.

“However, it’s not just the pandemic that has brought about this commitment to our people, it is something that has always been our number one focus, I am just delighted that we have been able to adjust and adapt to our employees changing needs over the past year – and that they have felt valued and supported during this incredibly challenging time.”