A better place to be

Brand new office and mess room facilities have given colleagues a boost at the East Midlands vehicle operating centre at East Midlands Airport.

Inadequate facilities at the centre were highlighted in the Employee Survey of 2017, contributing to low morale among the team.

With the hub operations at the airport growing substantially over the past few years, around 60 drivers and office colleagues are now based at the centre, while at least 80 drivers pass through each day and night.

Driver David Rutland, who is the CWU health and safety representative at the centre, said: ‘This place now gives you a good feeling when you walk in. I’m getting great feedback from drivers and I can see that morale is now up.

‘The mess room is light and spacious, while the offices are far more professional and secure.’

Louise Surgay, area distribution manager, East Midlands and Anglia, added: ‘Two Portakabins made up the traffic office and mess area, with no space to display any information or any private rooms for managers to work in.

‘The mess area consisted of a microwave and the toilets were also part of the small space and were regularly breaking.

‘Working with the CWU we set about developing a brand new space, and we now have a professional office environment.’