Existing World

Founded in 1919, this family-owned logistics and warehousing business, Bowker Transport, had built up an enviable reputation as a leading transportation provider, in the UK and internationally.

Obstacle

The company had done an impressive job of looking after its 650 employees in-house, but third-generation owner Bill Bowker saw that the world was changing and the business needed to adapt to meet its demands. This progressive owner had also become increasingly concerned about his team’s wellbeing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. He recognised how the changes it imposed on both the operating environment and people’s work and home routines; their social lives and the health of them and their families, had taken their toll.

Call to Action

As a family business with a strong ethos around caring for its people, Bill  decided Bowker needed to do something to safeguard them, and help the business itself to evolve and grow, and sought expert external human resources (HR) support from Blue Tree Consulting.

The Guide

We were able to review the company’s HR structures and aid its team in ensuring a best practice framework, including appropriate support for its managers in the form of training, development and additional wellbeing support. We were also on the end of the phone to answer any HR questions and offer our expert view on situations where another, experienced independent perspective was required to identify the right solution.  We have worked together with the Bowker management team to resolve any HR cases that have arisen.

The Challenge

As well as supporting the business in terms of its HR structures and procedures, to ensure it was meeting its legal obligations, we worked with key stakeholders to develop a new wellbeing strategy targeting everyone from senior and middle management to its drivers and support staff. This included activities designed to ensure their mental health and welfare was kept front and centre. We also provided training to ensure managers had the appropriate skills to effectively listen and identify when someone needs support, and how to have the right conversations – as well as instating a network of wellbeing champions to provide a confidential, listening ear to their colleagues, and signpost people to independent sources of support.

The Transformation

While we remain on-hand to offer ad hoc guidance and support, the business can now remain self-sufficient from a HR point of view, safe in the knowledge that its people operations are fit for purpose and in line with the very highest standards of practice. We have also produced a bespoke training course for Bowker called Managing Now, aimed at equipping the company’s people managers with the latest skills, knowledge and people skills necessary to excel in their roles.

New World

This established business is now able to move forward with renewed confidence that it is doing right by its employees, ensuring that its outstanding commitment to looking after the wellbeing of the people who are its lifeblood, lives on, delivered by its newly-empowered HR team, with their newfound confidence, and reinforced by leaders throughout the organisation. And whenever they need us, we remain just a phone call away. It also means the business is getting the very most from its workforce, who are reinvigorated and keen to go the extra mile – vital in a difficult economic environment characterised by challenging trading conditions, the unusually high cost of supplies like fuel and political uncertainty – all of which mean they need to operate as efficiently and effectively as possible.