Getting out and about

This week as part of our Exec meeting, myself and the Exec team had the chance to visit 19 different sites in the Wolverhampton trading area. Speaking with many familiar and new faces across Childcare, Travel and Food Retail, it’s something that hasn’t been as frequent for many of us due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, it was great to hear how they have been performing since the turn of the year and the many exciting plans going forward.

Meeting with Ross Linsday and the team at Pattingham Food. The Exec Team also joined the store visit

I am so impressed by all the hard work and dedication I have seen so far and look forward to more visits which will take place every other month this year. Next on the agenda for the Exec Team will be the Gloucestershire area in March. A thank you to all our colleagues for everything you are doing during a challenging and changing time.

Changes to Government Restrictions

Released earlier in the week was the relaxed Government restrictions to Travel in England and Scotland. With fully vaccinated passengers no longer having to take Covid tests either before departure or after arrival from 11 February, this is more welcomed news for the sector. So, if you haven’t already thought about your Summer 2022 plans, Your Co-op Travel are running an enhanced colleague discount up to £500 off your next trip away until the end of February. Click here to find out more.

For wider changes to Government restrictions, as mentioned in my blog last week, we are continually monitoring changes and look forward to welcoming back more colleagues into support offices from next week, all in line with the pre-plan B Government measures. To continue to keep our colleagues, members and customers safe, our Covid measures remain unchanged on face coverings. This mirrors the Government guidance in crowded and enclosed spaces where colleagues may come into contact with other people they do not normally meet. If you have any queries on this, please speak to your line manager.

Let’s hope these changes slowly bring a sense of normality as we move towards the brighter and longer days of Spring.

Retail Roadshows in Food Retail

Yesterday saw the start of the Retail Roadshows in Food Retail held by our senior Food teams. A chance for all store managers to gain an insight into what is going on around the business with updates, it also provides a chance for colleagues to ask questions to the senior team. With a mix of live and pre-recorded updates on topical subjects such as Costs, High Fats, Salt and Sugars & Customer Feedback, the roadshows will also showcase future Retail opportunities for many of our colleagues who have grown their careers within Midcounties. Running until 10 February, if colleagues in-store would like to have questions answered, please let your line managers know by 7 February.

Food Bank Fund Raises £40,000 for our partners

As mentioned earlier this week on Colleagues Connect, it was brilliant to hear that our Food bank fund raised £40,000 for our partners in need.

These vital funds will now be equally distributed at the end of the month at a time when individuals and families need them the most. Historically, January is a time when many Food bank partners struggle for donations due to the end of the festive period and is the main reason why we reserve the funds for January. Helping to reach the target in December, we also had additional support from the Too Good to Go app which donated £1 from every ‘magic bag’ sold in our stores to the Food bank fund.

It’s another testament to the great work our colleagues, members and customers do in supporting our local communities, so I thank each and every one of you who helped contribute in December during our Food justice campaign.

Finally, next Friday sees the beginning of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Thanks to Lottery funding, UK Sport is able to support athletes in eight winter Olympic and Paralympic sports such as Biathlon, bobsleigh, figure skating, freestyle skiing aerials, luge, short track speed skating and speed skating. Helping our athletes rise to new levels, over 5,000 elite athletes have now benefitted from National Lottery funding which comes from the public playing the lottery. Of course, it’s not just funding that makes the difference but dedication and personal sacrifice. Good luck to all the Team GB athletes who are taking part in China.

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