Awards success for Lincolnshire Co-op colleagues

Colleagues across Lincolnshire Co-op have landed awards for their hard work, outstanding effort and exceptional customer service.

More than 180 people received recognition for training achievements and great customer service during the Society’s Celebrating Success awards.

Three members of staff who had gone above and beyond the call of duty were also honoured with Gold, Silver and Bronze Employee of the Year awards.

The event took place on Wednesday, 22nd March at Lincolnshire Showground’s Epic Centre.

Head of People and Performance Heather Lee said: “We couldn’t be any prouder of our colleagues and their achievements.

“We’re pleased that so many took up training and have completed extra qualifications to progress their personal and professional development.

“There are also many wonderful stories of exemplary customer service and teams and individuals striving to help their local communities.”

Market Rasen Post Office Manager Mary-Jane Storr won Gold Employee of the Year after she and her team created posters, flyers and advised residents when two banks shut their branches in the town.

She said: “I spoke to one of the bank managers and said, ‘let’s work together’ as people just didn’t realise they can do lots of their normal banking through the post office.

“I went into the branch and onto its mobile bus, with permission of the bank manager, to talk to customers about what they had come to do and whether they could do it at the post office.”

Dispensing Assistant Cordelia Snowball at Grantham Pharmacy in Winchester Road won silver after her idea to create toiletry donation points to help homeless people was rolled out across Lincolnshire Co-op pharmacies under the Society’s Community Champions scheme - and resulted in 92 boxes of toiletries being collected.

The Bronze Employee of the Year award went to Travel Consultant and former travel apprentice Kelsey Roberts at Tritton Road Travel branch, and the team picked up Travel Cruise Branch of the Year.

Three Lincolnshire Co-op funeral homes – Tritton Road, Proctors Road and Bracebridge Heath - were jointly recognised for their high standards of work in helping families say last goodbyes to their loved ones.

Funeral Services Area Manager Andrew Turnbull said: “I would like to congratulate every member of staff from all three funeral homes. Every one of them has worked extremely hard throughout the past year to deliver the most professional and personal service to each and every family.”

Skellingthorpe Food Store was also one of three stores across Lincolnshire recognised for outstanding effort in customer service.

The brand-new Community Liaison Representative of the Year award was won by Billinghay Food Store Community Liaison Representative and Supervisor Stephanie May after she impressed the Society with her passion for helping the community – and her use of inspirational quotes to boost the team.

She said: “Motivating my colleagues is something I enjoy doing as part of both roles, and I’m really pleased to have won.”

Colleagues at Ruskington Post Office won praise for their hard work and good mystery shopper results, as they continue to provide a vital service to local residents.

Lincolnshire Co-op teams in Louth and Newark also picked up awards for their hard work.

The awards were:

Employee of the Year

Gold – Mary-Jane Storr, Market Rasen Post Office

Silver – Cordelia Snowball, Grantham Pharmacy

Bronze – Kelsey Roberts, Tritton Road Travel in Lincoln

Community Liaison Representative of the Year, Food

Stephanie May, Billinghay Food Store

Post Office Branch of the Year

Silver – Misterton Post Office

Gold – Ruskington Post Office

Travel Branch of the Year

Newark Travel

Cruise Branch of the Year

Tritton Road Travel, Lincoln

Funeral Branch of the Year

Silver – Louth

Gold – joint winners Tritton Road, Proctors Road and Bracebridge Heath, Lincoln

Pharmacy Branch of the Year

Bronze – Parkside Pharmacy, Boston

Silver – Rookery Lane Pharmacy, Lincoln

Gold – Louth Pharmacy

Food Awards for Outstanding Customer Service

Outstanding Customer Engagement Award, Skellingthorpe Food Store

Outstanding Customer Service Award, Willoughby Road Food Store, Scunthorpe

Service Team of the Year Award, Alford Food Store