Lincolnshire Co-op staff recognised for hard work and generosity at awards ceremony

Over 180 Lincolnshire Co-op staff have received deserved recognition for their hard work, outstanding effort and exceptional customer service at 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 during the event on March 22 at the Lincolnshire Showground.

Employee of the Year Gold award winner Mary-Jane Storr (centre) with Lincolnshire Co-op Chief Executive Ursula Lidbetter (left) and Lincolnshire Co-op President Stuart Parker (right)

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.”

Employee of the Year Silver award winner Cordelia Snowball with Lincolnshire Co-op Chief Executive Ursula Lidbetter (left) and Lincolnshire Co-op President Stuart Parker (right)

Dispensing assistant Cordelia Snowball at Grantham Pharmacy on 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.

Travel Consultant and former travel apprentice Kelsey Roberts (centre) picks up her award from Lincolnshire Co-op Chief Executive Ursula Lidbetter (left) and President Stuart Parker (right)

From left: Lincolnshire Co-op Chief Executive Ursula Lidbetter, Tritton Road Travel colleagues Stacey Bogg, Liz White, Kelly Tolley, Kelsey Roberts and Stella Wilson, and Lincolnshire Co-op President Stuart Parker (right)

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.

From left: Lincolnshire Co-op Chief Executive Ursula Lidbetter, Funeral colleagues Graham Mumby-Croft, Sharon Waller, Carol Bellamy, Matt Golding, Andrew Turnbull, Sue Stanley and Lincolnshire Co-op President Stuart Parker

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.

Colleagues at Skellingthorpe Food Store pick up their award for outstanding effort in customer service from Lincolnshire Co-op Chief Executive Ursula Lidbetter (left) and President Stuart Parker (right)

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’s Stephanie May after she impressed the society with her use of inspirational quotes to boost the team.

Colleagues at Ruskington Post Office won praise for their hard work and good mystery shopper results, with teams in Louth and Newark picking up awards for their hard work.

Head of people and performance at Lincolnshire Co-op 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.”

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