More than three quarters of WCF employees (76%) regard the company as “a great place to work” according to the findings of this year’s Great Place to Work UK Survey of employee views.
WCF, which has its head office in Brampton, Cumbria, is a diverse family of businesses operating in retail, logistics and leisure. It has over 370 employees working across more than 30 locations in the UK, including three fuel distribution businesses, WCF Chandlers, Allan Stobart Lubricants & Fuels and WCF Fuels North West, which deliver fuel from 13 storage depots in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Humberside, Yorkshire, Northumberland, Lancashire and Cumbria.
Phil Murray, Chief Executive Officer at WCF, commented on the results saying: “We’re delighted to have achieved this recognition which reflects the company’s commitment to ensuring that everyone feels valued, supported and proud to be part of the WCF team.
“As a part employee-owned business, our team are at the heart of everything we do. Every employee owner has the opportunity to share their ideas, views and opinions to make a positive impact on the performance of the business.”
Successful initiatives
Phil said the successful introduction of initiatives such as an employee app to ensure effective communication across the different businesses, and a Peer Coaching Programme to enable employees to develop new skills and reach their potential, were crucial to the success of the business.
“We are always looking for ways we can build on how we communicate and do it better. Because everyone at WCF knows their voice is important, we find they have a long-term investment in both their own roles and the wider business, which drives productivity and innovation.”
As part of the Great Place to Work UK survey, WCF employees were invited to share their views, anonymously, on work-life balance, sense of fulfilment, job satisfaction, psychological safety and financial security. The results, along with an assessment of consistency across departments and seniority levels, were used to determine the list.
WCF was also recognised by Great Place to Work in the top 100 of the UK’s Best Workplaces for Women 2025 list in July for large businesses.
As well as its fuel distribution business, WCF also has national mail order clothing brands, eight WCF Pet & Equestrian retail stores, an e-commerce business, and three camping and glamping sites at Edinburgh, Northumberland and the Peak District.
Images provided by WCF