Prós
Fairly well paid for what is, in essence, a "driving job". However, if you're not happy to spend up to 7 hours a day driving and put 3000 miles a month on your own (personal) car then maybe it isn't a "pro". A good technical support team of engineers who provide telephone support. Unfortunately, they see all too clearly what "commercially" is happening but, as they are (only) "technical", they are powerless to make any changes. A real shame that the sales reps and planning team words have more weight than this group of skilled engineers but they are the only ray of light in this company.
Contras
Where to start? This is, without any shadow of a doubt, the worst position and worst company that I have worked for in 30 years. The CEO and Senior Management Team (SMT) are either oblivious or uncaring to what is going on around them. They send out emails and bulletins stating "how great the company is", "how great our award winning training is", how wonderful our facilities are", "how much fun we have in the office" etc but the reality, for those on the ground and delivering the "work" is far different. BES market themselves on having a bespoke planning team with an "award winning" software system. The truth of it is that they really don't care. As long as an engineer's daily hours are filled they couldn't care whether it is with driving (lots and lots of that) or working (not so much of that especially in your own "area). In fact you don't really have an area! Despite, at interview, you are told that you do and that the bespoke planning team group work together to make it all as efficient as possible. Incorrect! The planning team simply do not either care or understand. The engineer's do not have areas. The area that they cover is the UK and heaven forbid you phone and complain about where you are sent! The CEO and SMT regard the "award winning" diary managers as the "golden children" / "chosen few" and they can do no wrong. Of course you can’t really complain can you? Paid to drive most of the day? Well - the reality of that is that you get a car allowance (£5K per annum before tax which works out at £333 per month after tax. That covers everything to keep you on the road in your own car. Bit at around 3000 per month the wear and tear on the car is substantial. But! You can make a little bit of money on the fuel claim back? No! What they don't tell you, is that it’s capped at 1600cc so if you buy anything with a larger engine then you're already disadvantaged (something to mention at interview maybe BES?). So - a diesel will get you a max of 9ppm back as far as they are concerned. Which, to save you working out, means you need to get a minimum of 58MPG to cover your costs. Which is achievable in a driving simulation where you don't carry around tools and equipment and queue and spend most of your life on B roads....! COVID-19? While the big players in this market (Allianz & Zurich) did the right thing and kept their surveyors off the roads and out of businesses, BES saw an opportunity to exploit their position and forced surveyors out to "keep Britain safe". A very cynical move which was criticised by surveyors from "opposition" companies who realised the difficult position BES surveyors were being put in. Of course - as with a lot of these things - the decisions were being made by people sat at home and "keeping safe". (Thanks for the weekly emailed message Mr CEO. Knowing you were keeping safe cutting your grass and having BBQ's and reminiscing about what a great childhood you had whilst I was out in the COVID wasteland of the UK made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside) But! We have an "award winning" online meeting platform (yawn! See what I mean about the emperor’s new clothes? They keep on trotting out the same "award winning" lines about everything that sooner or later everyone starts to believe the company "line"). Finally - the Business Development Managers. They clearly have specific training that enables them to "tell the customer what they want to hear" and then leave it up to the engineer to turn up and have to explain to the client that there are additional requirements which the customer has to pay for to enable the inspections to take place and "make Britain a safer place". But hey" What do I know? I only worked for the worst company in the UK for 12 months - which was the longest, most painful and frustrating 12 months employment I have ever had. Oh! and expect a 3 month notice period too - and, once your notice is submitted, to be definitely "on the outside". A little tip BES - it really doesn't hurt or cost anything to say "thanks!". But - when you have a CEO and SMT who think its "cool" and "groovy" to have their "award winning employees" getting around the office on scooters you really shouldn't be surprised with what you find when you're through their front door and part of the "team". All I can say is thank goodness. For me, the nightmare of being a BES employee is over. I'm going to take my award winning attitude and award winning skill set and go and work for another award winning employer who will treat me like an award winning employee in an award winning position on their award winning site......! Oh wait. That's exactly what I'm going to do...... I think BES has finally brain washed me too.....Good riddance BES. You will not be missed and, if I could remove you from my employment history, I would.