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The joy of flex: Bolton energy firm celebrates success of letting staff work anywhere, anytime

Energy retailer Love Energy Savings is booming after giving its staff the ultimate freedom to set their own work location and working hours.

The new policy – dubbed flexible flexible – was introduced in the summer in response to the changing nature of work post pandemic.

And in the three months since, Love Energy Savings has seen its intake of new job applicants rise by 250 per cent.

More than two thirds of these new workers live more than a 12 mile radius away from Love Energy Savings’ HQ in Bolton, Greater Manchester. Before ‘flexible flexible’ that number was 79 per cent of staff living inside a 12 mile radius of the office.

The numbers of new starters leaving the business has also dropped by more than 60 per cent since the policy was introduced.

Being able to ‘flex’ when it comes to working hours and where you work from is appealing to people as they settle to new lifestyles following the disruptions of Covid.

Rosie Macdonald, from Leeds, started with Love Energy Savings last year as a Digital PR Specialist. She says: “Like so many people, I got a puppy in lockdown – a cute Red Setter called Chester – but I wouldn’t be able to look after him properly if I had a commute and regular office hours to factor in.

“It’s fantastic that I’m able to walk Chester every day during the day and get out in the fresh air. In terms of my wellbeing, I’ve massively felt the benefits.

“Work-wise too, I’m more productive, alert for longer and doing my best work. I’ve never worked anywhere like this, where you are trusted to this level to work independently. It makes me feel so loyal to the company.”

Linda Heslop has had a similar experience since joining the company in September. The Conversion Rate Optimisation Specialist says: “I live in Folkestone, Kent, so commuting to Bolton would have been a non-starter.

“Remote working never appealed to me before the pandemic and even in the early days of lockdown at my previous job, I struggled to switch off. However, it’s very different here.

“I feel as included as if I was in the office thanks to the way we work. It’s a great mix of group meetings and one to ones that allow our personalities to come across while being really clear about what we need to get done.

“I couldn’t be happier with it. I’m planning to visit the head office in Bolton before Christmas, which will be great to see people in real life and strengthen those relationships even more.”

This is the latest innovation to have had a positive impact on Love Energy Savings staff. The firm was hailed earlier in 2021 for reducing emails in favour of Instagram and WhatsApp – in a bid to engage better with its predominantly under 30 workforce.

CEO of Love Energy Savings, Phil Foster, says: “We knew that the 9-5 office routine was broken – and now we have the proof.

“Our new colleagues are working smarter, achieving the work/life balance they want and flexible flexible is here to stay.

“It suits our colleagues, it suits our customers to have access to more of our staff outside of conventional business hours, and that’s a win/win for the business.”

COVID-19, Employee Benefits, Exercise, News, Remote Working

Boss Crowned ‘Joe Wicks of Bolton ’ for Lockdown Daily Staff Workouts

With Greater Manchester placed in tier three Covid restrictions, followed by National lockdown, one boss is going the extra mile to ensure his staff keep sharp, fit and focused through winter.

Phil Foster, CEO of Bolton-based Love Energy Savings, has pulled on his shorts and laced up his trainers to lead his team in daily video workouts live from his garage.

The half hour sessions, which have been running since the first lockdown in March, are experiencing a surge in popularity now that people are once again reluctant to return to their gyms and experiencing tighter restrictions on social mixing in Tier 3.

And with the almost 300 team mates at Love Energy Savings working from home for the foreseeable future, the 8am Instagram workouts with the boss internally dubbed ‘the Joe Wicks of Bolton’ ensure colleagues have something to look forward to on a daily basis.

Phil, 47, says: “I wanted to give my team something to focus on through lockdown outside of work to keep them active, focused and strong and whilst still ensuring we all felt part of the same family. I’ve always kept fit, but never been a fan of this kind of HIIT workout before. However, when the pandemic forced us all out of our office it was time for us all to do something different.

“I’ve grown to love it and seen the benefits it has for the health and the mental wellbeing of everyone.

“These are not all gym bunnies who are joining the session, people all have different reasons for taking part – some want to stay fit, lose weight or just see their team mates.

“It’s great for me to see so many people and their families – my wife and son get involved each day, too.

“With new restrictions meaning the prospect of a long winter at home, there is going to be a real de-motivation for a lot of people. It’s so important for your happiness as well as your fitness to have something to look forward to each day and provide a distraction from what’s going on in the world.”

At the same time as keeping its staff in tip top condition – throughout lockdown Love Energy Savings has been providing a shot in the arm for the nation’s small businesses – who have been facing significant pressures – by driving down their energy bills by an average of £875 a year.

Holly Pepper, who works in IT, says: “The workouts are structured well, covering cardio, glutes, abs, shoulders, everything! I feel so fresh, motivated and happy afterwards. I’m pretty sure I’m more productive too. Aside from the exercise aspect, it is another reminder of how great a place this is to work. The fact that our CEO has thought to do this for us, and done it every day even on his holidays, encourages you to do it too.”

Holly’s colleague Ben Birch, who works in Operations, adds: “I’ve not missed one class. While we are at home it just keeps you focused – keeps the mind and body active.

“Also body wise I’m feeling in the best shape I’ve been in in five years – I’ve lost over a stone – and can feel muscle gain. It’s completely changed my mentality and become part of day-to-day life.”

People worker Laura Higson adds: “I’ve never actually worked my muscles before, previously I would go to the gym on a cross trainer for 30 minutes and that’s about it.

“This came at a perfect time for me, the gyms closed down due to Covid-19 and I had all my baby weight to lose. Without the sessions from Phil, I wouldn’t have the motivation to work out five days a week. Now I’m back working, I can’t always make the live sessions however I still complete my work out later on in the day. Altogether I’ve lost three stones. This is from eating a healthy diet, working out daily and going for regular runs. I feel so much healthier.

“I really appreciate Phil taking time out of his daily schedule to do the live work outs for such a long amount of time.”