Roadchef Achieves World-class Employer Status With 3-star Best Companies Rating

Roadchef, one of the leading motorway service area (MSA) operators in the UK, has been awarded 3-star accreditation in the latest Best Companies to Work For list. This recognition highlights the company as a world-class employer for 2025, reflecting its exceptional commitment to employee well-being and its culture of continuous improvement.

Roadchef, which has 31 sites nationwide, has earned the highest level of recognition from Best Companies, building on its previous achievements as the 4th best large company in the UK and 5th-best in the hospitality and leisure sector in 2024. The company continues to be recognised regionally across the East Midlands, North East, North West, Scotland, South East, South West, Wales, and West Midlands.

This accomplishment represents the culmination of Roadchef's engagement journey, which began with a 1-star rating in 2021, progressed to 2-star accreditation in 2024, and now reaches the elite 3-star status in 2025. The company has shown improvement across nearly all Best Companies engagement factors, with particularly strong performance in the Wellbeing category. In 2024, Roadchef won the Best Companies Special Award for Wellbeing, demonstrating its ability to outperform typical 3-star companies in this area.

Roadchef has implemented financial wellbeing initiatives such as drawing down on earned wages ahead of payday, heavily subsidised employee meals, community pantries, interest-free hardship loans, and breakfast clubs. The business has also enhanced recognition programs that celebrate employee achievements and strengthened communication channels to ensure employee voices are heard at all levels of the organisation.

Roadchef has seen remarkable results from these initiatives. End-of-year employee turnover was less than 40%, and stability metrics show just under 50% of employees have a minimum of two years' service – exceptional metrics for the retail, hospitality and leisure sector, which is traditionally characterized by high turnover rates. Additionally, the MSA operator is experiencing strong internal promotion rates, with 65% of first-line manager promotions filled by internal applicants.

Peter Cossar, Operations Director commented: “Achieving the 3-star accreditation is one of the proudest moments in my career. We've spent years building a fantastic culture and team environment, and this recognition is a testament to the collaboration of every Roadchef team member. Our team truly is the foundation of our business.”

Laura Bunn, HR Director at Roadchef, added: “People really are at the heart of everything we do within Roadchef. Continuing to make it the best place possible to work is our ongoing goal and this achievement is testament to just that. We have put in place a number of initiatives for our employees over the last few years and the employee engagement feedback through the Best Companies survey demonstrates the benefit these have had. I couldn't be prouder.”

The Best Companies to Work For accreditation programme is the leading UK assessor of workplace engagement, recognising organisations and managers who genuinely value and respect their employees. The b-Heard survey powers the Best Companies to Work For Lists, providing academically rigorous insights and an authoritative list of the best organisations to work for.

Roadchef also earned Investors in People Platinum status in 2023 and a nomination for Best Company Culture at the 2024 IIP Awards, further underscoring its dedication to employee wellbeing and engagement.