Extra leave and health benefits added as Drive Motor Retail puts staff in focus

Health benefits, enhanced annual leave and subsidised gym memberships are part of a new wellbeing package introduced for staff at AM100 dealer group Drive Motor Retail.

The Vauxhall, MG and Citroen car and van dealer has boosted its staff benefits package with a desire to improve the work-life balance for employees and provide more flexibility in working.

Every employee of Drive Motor Retail will automatically be entitled to two extra days of annual leave, irrespective of their length of service, and the range of extra health benefits includes a healthcare cash plan, which gives access to an online GP and money towards dental treatments, health checks, physiotherapy sessions and more.

Staff are also entitled to online counselling sessions and discounted gym memberships.

Rob Keenan, joint managing director, said he believes this brings Drive ahead of industry standards when it comes to rewarding and supporting staff.

"“We recognise the importance of making every Drive employee feel valued and ensuring that we attract the best talent in the industry, which is something I hope the new benefits scheme will help us to do."

Fellow joint managing director Stuart Harrison added: “We had a strong year in 2021 and we know that we won’t be able to continue to grow this year without the hard work of our team, so we feel that rewarding existing employees and attracting new ones will stand us in good stead to continue with our growth plans.”

The company, which won Vauxhall's European Dealer of the Year Award in 2019, has more than 700 staff across 16 dealerships and it introduced enhanced rewards for apprentices this year.

During National Apprenticeship Week in February, Drive revealed vehicle technician apprentices at its 16 UK dealerships will benefit from paid-for driving lessons; a monetary reward six months after qualifying; and further guaranteed bonus payments during years three and five after their qualification.

Apprentices who qualified in 2021 will also be entitled to the new benefits and will be paid their first reward retrospectively, it added.

In December at its 'Overdrive' awards ceremony, Drive hosted more than 250 staff at a black tie event and presented awards to around 60 staff