Legal Updates

BLYTHE LIGGINS SETS THE BENCHMARK

22/07/2011

A nationwide landscaping and grounds maintenance company has appointed Leamington law firm Blythe Liggins to handle its employment law and to provide commercial advice.
Benchmark Grounds Maintenance, based at Snitterfield, has a network of seven regional service centres providing landscaping and grounds maintenance to telecommunications and petroleum companies, high street retailers, shopping centres, superstores and property agents from the Isle of Wight to Aberdeen.
Launched six years ago by managing director Jeremy Rodway-Smith, Benchmark employs landscapers and ground maintenance staff for a wide range of corporate clients ranging from Cadbury World to Savills.
“We were looking for a local law firm with national expertise on employment law and commercial matters,” said Mr Rodway-Smith, whose company won ‘Employer of the Year’ at the annual British Association of Landscape Industries awards in Park Lane, London, earlier this year.
Richard Moon, head of employment law at Blythe Liggins, said: “Benchmark is a company that cares a great deal for its workforce. It has demonstrated a commitment to its employees’ well-being and skills development that has been recognised by the industry.
“The firm, which has Investors in People, believes in paying top dollar for the best people and the employees are happy, involved, well trained, well rewarded and proud to be part of the team. In short, Benchmark is a model employer.”
Mr Rodway-Smith added: “I believe that our investment in employees has been the key to our year-on-year growth, which has been anything from 10 to 30 per cent. Our vision is to continually improve and to set a benchmark for others to follow.”
Before setting up Benchmark, Mr Rodway-Smith was centre manager at Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Brierley Hill, near Dudley, where he led a team of 250 people.

CAPTION: Richard Moon (left) and Jeremy Rodway-Smith