A culture of caring collaboration that considers employees’ individual needs and ensures everyone feels in the loop has helped us keep spirits high and come out stronger than ever before.
After 25 years of service driving our business and culture from behind the scenes, Karen Barton has expanded her role to encompass finance, business systems, inventory management and HR – and is stepping into the spotlight as a director and member of the board.
It goes without saying that COVID-19 is a human and economic tragedy – one we all wish we didn’t have to face. Yet the coronavirus crisis is reshaping several elements of home and working life in a positive way that I hope will continue once the pandemic has passed.
An important part of FB Chain’s philosophy is our social responsibility. As the head of the company, I feel a very great responsibility for our employees and their families. This is why we have now made, and in the next few days will make, more changes to limit the threat to our employees from the Coronavirus. Whilst I would love to tell you that our business will continue as usual, the truth is, it won’t.
I received some great pictures from St Neots rugby this weekend showing the under 9 team in their new kit with our logo. We have donated to a number of local youth teams over the years as our local community has many volunteer-run sports clubs and it is great to do a little bit to support them.
There were a few raised eyebrows last week when I suggested that 2017 had been a quiet year for FB Chain. It is amazing to think that at this point last year we were just about to start the relocation to our new building, and as I write this, it feels like it’s been our home for years. At the beginning of each year I suggest that everyone keep a list of key achievements during the year – this helps when the boss says something stupid like it has been a 'quiet year' or when things are not going to plan, a quick reality check on what has been achieved that can help to lift the spirts.
This is me giving my colleague Thomas Wagner a small gift to mark the fact that he has worked for FB in Austria and Germany for over 25 years.
I get to do some great things as MD of FB Chain and I enjoy almost every element of my job but this month I had to do one of the hardest things in my 7 years in charge – tell the team that our colleague Amanda Ward had passed away just 3 month since she was diagnosed as having Motor Neurone Disease. She was well thought of by our customers and one of them gave me some good advice: “Draw strength and comfort from your memories”. So I thought this month I would share a few Amanda stories.
MD Peter Church asks the question: ‘Should we give customers what they want or only what they need?’
