Central England Co-op continues to help budding mechanics fulfil their dreams
Posted by nathan lloyd | Published: 30/11/2016
Budding mechanics at Stephenson College in Leicestershire will find it easier to get a foot on the career ladder after taking delivery of a further vehicle donated by Central England Co-operative. The college received two heavy goods vehicles in April this year, which were previously used to make deliveries to Society food stores. The students have now also received a funeral hearse, which will get a second lease of life as a training vehicle on the College’s HGV Maintenance and Repair course, allowing them to get hands-on practical experience.
Robin Farrell, Head of Distribution and Logistics at Central England Co-operative, commented:“As a responsible business we put a large emphasis on making a positive contribution to the communities in which we trade. We’re delighted to hand over a third vehicle to Stephenson College.
“Being a sustainable business and emphasising our sustainable practices are an important part of our ethos at Central England Co-operative, and it is great that we could ‘recycle’ a hearse and support the community, in particular, that of Coalville.”
Talking about the donation, Mark Walker, Faculty Head of Engineering, Motor Vehicle, Mathematics and English added: “On behalf of Stephenson College we would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Central England Co-op for another generous donation.
“Our students’ practical skills base, both apprentices and full time, will benefit greatly whilst working on the hearse and their improved knowledge will in turn be advantageous to their respective local and national employer’s productivity.
“Central England Co-op has yet again demonstrated a commitment to training the next generation of vehicle technicians; we are very proud of our association with such a forward thinking and caring organisation.”
Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility. It is a member of Business in the Community (BiTC), the membership organisation that stands for responsible business. Central England Co-operative currently holds two and a half stars in the BiTC annual CR Index in recognition of its responsible business activity across a range of areas. In 2015 the Society also became the fourth organisation worldwide, and the first in the retail sector, to achieve all four of the Carbon Trust’s internationally-recognised environmental certifications.
Picture caption: Students from Stephenson College with – Gary Tomlinson (Transport Manager), Mark Walker (Head of Faculty – Motor vehicle & Engineering), Matthew George (Area Manager – Funeral), Rob Forster (Motor Vehicle Lecturer) and Paul Leete (Fleet Operations Manager – Funeral).
About Central England Co-operative
Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with projected gross sales of £958million for 2016/17. The Society recently celebrated being named Leading Co-operative of the Year 2016 by Co-operatives UK. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, and property. Central England Co-operative has more than 430 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire. The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2016/17.
Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility. It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence. The Society supports a number of charities including Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.
For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative
Rob Smyth / Jo Baldock at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140
Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop