View from the floor

Job security, revenue protection and upskilling were among the issues raised by colleagues when they put their questions and ideas to board members at our first official Employee Voice Forum, held in Exeter.

The purpose of the forums is to give colleagues a chance to talk with our business leaders directly, to ensure their views are considered in decisions at Board level.

Group CEO Rico Back, HR director Sally Ashford and chief operating officer and chief finance officer Stuart Simpson were among business leaders fielding questions from a full house of colleagues, including postmen and women, delivery drivers and engineers.

Watch the RMtv video above to hear why Rico and non-executive director and Employee Voice Forum representative, Simon Thompson, who led the Q&A, believe events like this are so important.

Training drivers to drive HGVs was suggested as a way to meet shortages without hiring from agencies. Fixing machines in-house rather than paying suppliers was another welcome recommendation, with Stuart championing an attitude of ‘continuous improvement’ among teams.

Michael Kennedy, collections driver at Plymouth Mail Centre, was pleased with the response. ‘It feels like they want to listen to what we want to say and expand on our ideas,’ he said. ‘They do put a lot of effort in to make it work.’

Rico told the forum it is crucial the business moves forward as quickly as possible with our new strategy.

‘We are the biggest parcel company in the country, he said. ‘If we get complacent, we’re going to lose that.