Globe Travel Awards, Australian Bushfires Appeal & GroceryAid

I wanted to start by thanking Alistair, Chief Retail Officer - Specialist Business, for writing this blog last week when I was on holiday. January is a critical month for Travel and despite some of the major challenges facing the industry, from the recent news of struggling airline Flybe and the Thomas Cook collapse, to Brexit; it is good to know that even though there is visible fragility, we are in capable hands. This could not be truer, as I can now announce that last night Alistair won the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Globe Travel Awards 2020, well-earned recognition for his 20 years’ experience in the travel sector. The Globe Travel Awards ceremony is acknowledged as the most prestigious accolades in the Travel industry. 

Alistair said “I am delighted to have been presented with the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Travel Globes last night. Whilst it is great for me, it is equally great for Midcounties who chose to support the growth of the travel business when a very generous offer was made to sell it to Thomas Cook in 2011. The Society and particularly the colleagues should be very proud that we operate one of the best and most respected brands in the industry, which is sustainable, profitable and growing.”

On behalf of everyone at the Society, congratulations Alistair! You can read more by clicking here.

Co-operative Federal Trading Services Board

This week I attended the first 2020 board meeting of the Co-operative Federal Trading Services Board in Manchester, with the Co-operative Group alongside other independent Societies. We discussed how the Co-operative Sector has once again outperformed the major supermarkets over the Christmas period. In our food stores, we saw a 3.3% growth throughout December on a like for like basis.

Australian Bushfires Appeal

I’m sure that like me you have been deeply moved by the unfolding human and wildlife tragedy caused by the raging bushfires in Australia. Apart from those who have tragically lost their lives, it has also been estimated that over a billion animals have perished in the wildfires. To help the communities who have been most affected over the past months, this week we launched the Australian Bushfires Appeal in conjunction with Co-ops UK and the Australian Mutuals Foundation. Every penny raised will go to The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia who are known locally as ‘Vinnies’. They have more than 60,000 members and volunteers from their communities, who work hard to assist people in need and combat social injustice across Australia. Vinnies has provided emergency care packs to the victims of the fires through the refuge centres and is now supporting those people with much-needed material aid. They will also assist with the long-term recovery of the communities affected by this tragedy, helping them to rebuild their lives. If you would like make a big or small donation to this very deserving cause please click here.

GroceryAid - Colleague helpline

Another important cause I wanted to highlight closer to home is GroceryAid. They are the national charity that helps people across the whole of the grocery industry – from the largest factory, through the supply chain, to the smallest store. They help colleagues with mental health, physical health and personal issues, from depression and debt to carers and family breakdown. Last year they helped over 15,000 colleagues, and gave crisis grants to 856 people and donated over £4.25milion in welfare support. We have just launched our Employee Assistance Programme with them so please take the time to find out more about it by clicking here.

Community Power Tariff

I’m proud to say that this week Co-op Energy launched the first-ever energy tariff to offer clean electricity exclusively from community projects. The Community Power tariff will source clean electricity directly from 90 local renewable energy generation projects from across the UK, including Osney Lock Hydro in Oxford that I visited last year at the launch.  All the profits will be reinvested in maintaining the community projects and building new ones. The tariff is the UK’s only one to be powered by 100% community-generated electricity and will also ensure a fair price is paid to community generators. Customers on the Community Power tariff will be able to see exactly where their energy is being generated at sites across the UK and understand how they will be benefiting local communities. There was a very good article in the Guardian this week about the Community Power tariff – to read it click here.

That's all for this week - if you enjoyed my blog why not leave a comment below by signing in?