Member Article

Bolton firm encouraging staff to sort-out personal worries in company time - for a very good reason

THIS forward-thinking firm is encouraging staff to address their personal worries in company time.

And boss Phil Foster is convinced the ‘perk’ will actually boost wellbeing and productivity.

Mr Foster is managing director of price comparison service Love Energy Savings, employing a team of 260 at his base in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Love Energy Savings has just launched a partnership with the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank Group (CYBG).

Money experts from the group are now visiting Love Energy Savings employees - in company time - to give them advice on everything from loans, mortgages and savings options to pensions and credit cards.

And Mr Foster says it’s just one of a string of staff ‘Love Perks’ which boost morale and keep employees happy.

He explained: “Ask most people, and they’ll tell you that three of the biggest worries in life are their health, their financial wellbeing and their love life.

“We’re not a dating agency, so we might struggle with love and relationships.

“But we can help on the other two fronts.

“We’ve already implemented a free gym, free yoga sessions as well as free fruit for all members of staff, in a bid to get them thinking about how health and wellbeing.

“And we’re now also trying to help people plantheir financial future, too.”

Love Energy Savings specialises in securing cheaper energy tariffs for business customers and was founded in 2008.

Mr Foster says a “stress-free workforce is also a powerful one”.

He adds: “We’ve all experienced times when money worries get on top of us, and it’s easy to carry those stresses into work.”

“That’s why we want to make sure all of our staff have access to proper advice, right here at their desks, whether they’re buying a new home or making plans for the future.”

Mike Edwards, Head of People at Love Energy Savings, says they want to be seen as one of the region’s most forward-thinking employers.

He adds: “It might sound slightly odd that we’re allowing employees to handle personal matters in company time, but for us it’s a no-brainer.

“We’re growing fast and we rely on our fantastic workforce to drive that growth.

“And the only way for us to maintain momentum is to give them all the support we can, whether that’s professionally or personally.”

Other ‘Love Perks’ for Love Energy Savings staff include a ‘Love Shack’ canteen stocked with arcade machines, Sony Playstations and pool tables.

There are monthly staff awards events, to recognise the achievements of high-performing individuals or teams, as well as company nights out.

Love Energy Savings was featured in the top 30 in last year’s Sunday Times ‘Tech Track 100’ list of Britain’s fastest-growing private technology companies, as well as scooping the prize for ‘Fast Business Growth’ at last year’s The Business Desk’s Business Masters awards, and more recently winning the title of Awesome Place to Work at this year’s Telca awards, which were held in London in June.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Love Energy Savings .