Retail and Horticulture Success Story
Longacres
Discover how Longacres, the UK’s largest independent garden centre group, transformed HR and workforce operations with app’s all-in-one platform. The business improved rota management, ensured HR compliance, and simplified payroll reporting while supporting over 600 employees across six locations.
600 +
Employees
6
Locations
1
Platform
Founded in 1979, Longacres Garden Centres has grown into the UK’s leading family-run chain of garden centres, employing more than 600 staff across six stores in the South of England.
Managing such a large and seasonal workforce brought significant HR challenges. Manual scheduling, fragmented HR systems, and time-consuming payroll processes created inefficiencies across stores. With hundreds of employees working shifts across retail, horticulture, and customer service, the business needed a better way to manage people and compliance.
Overview
Explore this case study if:
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You run a large retail or multi-site business with seasonal staff.
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You’re looking for workforce management software to simplify complex rotas and payroll.
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You need an HRMS that ensures compliance with UK employment law.
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You want to improve employee engagement and communication across multiple locations.
What Was Needed
Longacres needed to:
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Centralise HR operations and replace their disconnected HR tools with one platform to manage employee records, contracts, and rotas.
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Simplify shift scheduling, manage seasonal staffing peaks, holiday cover, and flexible shift patterns without overburdening managers.
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Improve time-tracking and attendance, automating clock-ins to reduce payroll errors and provide accurate attendance data across six sites.
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Ensure HR compliance with working time rules, right-to-work checks, and HR documentation requirements.
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Streamline payroll reporting by cutting down on manual processes by linking attendance and rota data directly into payroll.
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Support employee engagement, providing staff with access to rotas, policies, and leave requests via a mobile app, boosting communication.
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Reduce manual admin, automating routine HR tasks, freeing managers to focus on customers and store operations.
Where We Came In
With smart scheduling, attendance tracking, mobile self-service, and compliance tools, Longacres gained full visibility and control over its workforce while reducing risk and admin. With app, Longacres achieved:
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Smart Rotas and Shift Scheduling
Easily create digital rotas, adapt schedules to seasonal peaks, and fill shifts faster. Managers can notify staff of changes instantly. -
Automated Time-Tracking and Attendance
Employees clock in via mobile or on-site, ensuring accurate payroll and reducing disputes over hours worked. -
Payroll Accuracy
Attendance and rota data automatically integrate with payroll, eliminating manual timesheet collection. -
HR Compliance Management
Centralised digital contracts, policies, and employee records ensure compliance with UK employment regulations. -
Mobile Self-Service for Staff
Employees can check their rotas, request holiday, and access policies directly from their phones. -
Data-Driven HR Insights
Managers can track labour costs, absence trends, and shift coverage in real time for better decision-making.
Our Services
Longacres benefited from multiple app modules and services, including:
Workforce Management Tools
Applicant Tracking System
Employee Engagement
Accurate Payroll and Cost Control
HR Compliant Templates
“app has given us the tools to manage a large seasonal workforce more effectively. We’ve cut down on admin, improved payroll accuracy, and made it easier for staff to access what they need. It’s a major step forward for our business.”
The Real Value
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Increased Efficiency & Productivity
Automated scheduling, payroll, and HR processes reduced administrative burdens.
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Enhanced Compliance & Reduced Risk
Digital HR policies and compliance tracking ensured adherence to employment laws.
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Cost Savings Time and cost savings through automated processes and reduced payroll errors.
Get Your Free Demo
Our dynamic duo of world-class HR tools and smart Workforce Management technology delivers up to 80% of your day-to-day needs, automating the tedious tasks that sap away your time.