Pod recognised as an Inspiring Workplace, one year on from rebrand
Twelve months after evolving into Pod, the business has been recognised in the 2026 Inspiring Workplaces Awards for the people-first culture it has built
22 May 2026
30 Jun 2026
8 min read
On 21 May 2026, Pod ranked as one of the most Inspiring Workplace in the UK, at the 2026 ceremony, one year on since the business rebranded and launched Pod Drive, the UK’s first home EV charging subscription.
It’s the second time Pod has been recognised for its culture this year already, following its win at the Flexa Awards in April; being named the Most Mission-Driven Company. These accolades belong to every person at Pod who makes it what it is, not just the leaders or the People team.
As well as ranking in 21st place across all the businesses nominated, Pod placed in the top 5 for medium size employer and was commended for the ‘Leadership’ category. One judge said that ours was “one of the most compelling transformation stories” they’ve read, while another shared that Pod tells an “inspiring story of organisational recovery, with a clear sense of honesty about the challenges faced and the progress being made.”
A business rebuilt from the inside out
When the business evolved into Pod in May 2025, the changes ran deeper than the name. Pod shifted its focus from just selling EV chargers to providing charging services and building deeper relationships with customers, enabling the business to build integrated solutions tailored to help households and businesses transition to electric living with ease.
Internally, Pod introduced a new operating model built around 13-week cycles and cross-functional teams, a leadership philosophy rooted in extreme ownership, and a refreshed purpose: powering the life we love, without costing the earth.
Its values were reset at the same time. Truth (do what’s right, not what’s easy), Edge (lead the charge), and Care (a connected heart) now guide how decisions are made and how people are expected to lead – from the executive team down.
The things we’ve built
Pod has introduced a range of employee programmes and policies designed to support wellbeing, inclusion, and recognition. These include Pod Parcs, a company-wide annual offsite where every employee is invited; Recharge Week, a dedicated end-of-cycle period of reflection, learning, and innovation; and Pod Stars, a peer-nominated recognition scheme tied to company values that has generated close to 800 shout-outs since launching.
On inclusion, Pod’s BELONG network has helped shape tangible policy changes, including the introduction of flexible bank holidays across the whole business. The company has also introduced baby loss leave for both parents, dedicated leave for health issues more commonly experienced by women, and provides every employee (along with their friends and family) access to Unmind’s clinically-backed mental health support.
Commitments, made publicly
Pod has made a number of public commitments to reflect where it stands as an employer. It is a Disability Confident employer, a founding partner of Global Women in EV Day, a Sector Champion for We Show The Salary, a signatory of the 49 Collective Charter, and Pod is Flexa-verified too. Each of those is a statement of where they stand, creating high standards to be held against.
Most recently, Pod’s Chief People Officer, Ed Airey joined a panel hosted by HASSL x The Female Founder, speaking about burning platform issues for women such as safety and equality of opportunity - demonstrating we practice what we preach.
He, alongside our Chief Revenue Officer Debbie Foley, were both recognised as part of the 49 Collective’s Award series in the Allies for Change and People & Culture Champions categories, respectively.
Mel Lane, CEO at Pod, said:
“This recognition belongs to every single person at Pod. The last twelve months have asked a lot of this team - a rebrand, a new operating model, joining the EDF family, and a relentless pace of change in our industry. The fact that we’ve come through it building a business with real momentum and a workplace people are genuinely proud of speaks volumes about who we are. Truth, Edge and Care aren’t slogans - they’re how we’ve made it here, and how we’ll keep going.”
What comes next
Pod’s commercial momentum is running alongside its cultural development. Following the launch of its first EV tariff, Pod Power by EDF, more new products and services will come this year as the company continues to make electric living easy, affordable and rewarding for everyone.
On a day that marks both this recognition and an anniversary, it’s important that we take a moment to recognise how far we’ve come - and the culture, and the people, who’ve made it possible.
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