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Staff Zone News
A.F. Blakemore Welcomes New Starters on Company Induction
January 17, 2019
Each month It’s Your E-news goes along to A.F. Blakemore’s company induction to find out more about some of the business’s latest new joiners
A.F. Blakemore Relaunches Payroll Giving across the Business
January 03, 2019
A.F. Blakemore relaunches its Payroll Giving scheme with site visits and an online platform to make it as easy as possible for employees to sign up
New Blakemore Retail Magazine Out Now
January 03, 2019
A.F. Blakemore publishes the latest edition of its Blakemore Retail magazine
Blakemore Colleagues Celebrate Cracking Community Christmas
January 02, 2019
A.F. Blakemore employees supported more than two thousand different good causes in their local communities this Christmas
Process Improvement to Drive Change across Willenhall Chilled
January 02, 2019
Process management and process improvement are introduced into Willenhall’s chilled logistics operation to help deliver efficiencies and improve customer service
Community Volunteering Steps Up in Logistics
December 31, 2018
Community volunteering across Blakemore Logistics stepped up a gear as Christmas approached, with employees donating more than 560 hours of work time to community groups
Flagship Store Programme Delivers Double-digit Sales Growth for BTP Retailers
December 28, 2018
SPAR stores on Blakemore Trade Partners’ Flagship Store programme are experiencing retail sales growth of up to 30%
100-year Prize Draw Winners Announced
December 24, 2018
To mark the end of A.F. Blakemore’s centenary celebrations, the company launched a 100-year prize draw in September, open to all colleagues
Santa Stops Early for Blakemore Kids Christmas Parties
December 13, 2018
Christmas came early for children of colleagues across the Blakemore estate at the company’s annual Kids Christmas Party celebrations
A.F. Blakemore Provides Careers Boost to Black Country Students
December 06, 2018
More than 3,500 students will receive a career boost thanks to a pioneering partnership between A.F. Blakemore and companies from across the Business in the Community network
Blakemore Retail Praised for Disability Awareness Training
December 04, 2018
Blakemore Retail is recognised with an award for its innovative disability e-learning training by the charity Purple
ILM Level 2 Delegates Successfully Complete Programme
December 04, 2018
Ten A.F. Blakemore colleagues are on track to achieve a nationally recognised qualification after successfully completing an ILM Level 2 Certificate in Leadership & Team Skills programme
SPAR Droitwich Relaunched at Brand New Site
December 03, 2018
Blakemore Retail’s Droitwich SPAR store relaunches with new Daily Deli food to go at a brand new location
A.F. Blakemore Welcomes New Starters on Company Induction
December 03, 2018
Each month It’s Your e-News goes along to A.F. Blakemore’s company induction to find out more about some of the business’s latest new joiners
Blakemore Logistics Delivers Road Safety Message to Schools
November 28, 2018
More than 800 pupils from across the West Midlands are educated on the rules of the road as part of Blakemore Logistics’ annual road safety campaign
Blakemore Bids Farewell to Brian
November 26, 2018
Blakemore Fine Foods Depot Manager Brian Carr retires following 21 years’ service for the company
SPAR Greater Leys Relaunches with New Greggs Department
November 23, 2018
Blakemore Retail’s Greater Leys SPAR store in Oxford reveals a new look after a considerable transformation
Blakemore Retail Colleagues Take Stairway to Sky to Help NSPCC
November 01, 2018
Blakemore Retail colleagues climb to the top of one of London’s most iconic buildings to raise money for the NSPCC
New Project Admin Training Launched
November 01, 2018
A.F. Blakemore launches a new Project Admin training session to support the delivery of key projects across the business
Blakemore Colleagues Get Scare On for Halloween
November 01, 2018
A.F. Blakemore colleagues support a whole host of fang-tastic community activities this Halloween
Future Leaders Apprenticeship: Last Call for Applicants
November 01, 2018
The deadline to apply for A.F. Blakemore’s next Future Leaders Apprenticeship programme is November 30th 2018
In the Spotlight: Six Q&As with Blakemore Retail Colleagues
October 30, 2018
Blakemore Retail invites some of its longest serving colleagues to take part in a quick Q&A
Drivers Celebrate Warehouse to Wheels Success
October 29, 2018
A.F. Blakemore employees celebrate successfully qualifying as LGV drivers on the company’s Warehouse to Wheels programme
Blakemore Retail’s NSPCC Fundraising Reaches New Heights
October 17, 2018
Ten Blakemore Retail colleagues have thrown themselves into a fundraising challenge, jumping out of a plane and plunging 10,000 feet in the name of charity
White’s Calver Crowned Baldwin Trophy Winners at SRS 2018
October 08, 2018
White’s Calver is crowned the best SPAR retailer across the Meridian & Welsh Guild
Blakemore Foundation Supports Macmillan Coffee Morning
October 03, 2018
Blakemore employees have donated more than £1,800 worth of tea, coffee, cake, squash and biscuits to Macmillan Cancer Support’s ‘World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’
A.F. Blakemore Welcomes New Starters on Company Induction
October 02, 2018
Each month It’s Your E-news goes along to A.F. Blakemore’s company induction to find out more about some of the business’s latest new joiners
Blakemore Foodservice Inspires Next Generation at East Midlands Trade Show
October 02, 2018
Blakemore Foodservice welcomes students from Midlands-based school Glascote Academy to discover more about healthy and nutritional food at its annual East Midlands trade show
SPAR Crowned Symbol Group of the Year at Retail Industry Awards
October 02, 2018
SPAR is crowned Symbol/Fascia Group of the Year at the 2018 Retail Industry Awards
Blakemore Foodservice Donates £5,000 to Midlands-based Cancer Charities
October 02, 2018
Kind hearted employees from Blakemore Foodservice have donated £5,000 to charities Walsall Breast Cancer Support Group and Balls to Cancer
SPAR Gabalfa Announced as SRS 2018’s £100,000 Big Investment Winner
October 01, 2018
Blakemore Trade Partners presents SPAR Gabalfa, Cardiff, with a transformational £100,000 investment award to further develop the successful family-run business
Richard Harman Talks Strategy with Better Wholesaling
September 27, 2018
Head of Blakemore Foodservice Richard Harman talks about the latest business developments across Blakemore Foodservice with Better Wholesaling magazine
Blakemore Retail Launches New Insomnia Coffee Shop at Thurcroft
September 21, 2018
Blakemore Retail extends its Insomnia coffee offer by opening a brand new coffee shop at the location of its recently relaunched SPAR Thurcroft store in Rotherham
A.F. Blakemore to Showcase Centenary in Express & Star Supplement
September 06, 2018
A.F. Blakemore has worked with West Midlands-based newspaper the Express & Star to produce a business supplement that showcases the company’s 100 years in business
SPAR Retail Show Inspires with Food for Thought
September 06, 2018
More than 1,200 colleagues, suppliers and retailers attend Blakemore Trade Partners’ SPAR Retail Show, themed ‘Food for Thought’
Foodservice Colleagues Tackle Banks’s 10k Run for Charity
September 05, 2018
Blakemore Foodservice colleagues banded together to take on the Banks’s 10k run in Wolverhampton to raise over £600 for chosen charity, the Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
A.F. Blakemore Welcomes New Starters on Company Induction
September 05, 2018
Each month It’s Your E-news goes along to A.F. Blakemore’s company induction to find out more about some of the business’s latest new joiners.
Future Leaders Apprenticeship Programme Now Recruiting
September 05, 2018
A.F. Blakemore is looking for 12 new delegates for its Future Leaders Apprenticeship programme, scheduled to commence with a second cohort in early 2019
Hastings Colleagues Celebrate Recognition at Truckfest
September 05, 2018
Blakemore Logistics colleagues in Hastings are celebrating after receiving recognition for their trucks at Europe’s biggest trucking festival, Truckfest
Refer a Driver and Receive £400 in Vouchers
September 05, 2018
In a bid to assist with driver recruitment across Blakemore Logistics, a new incentive scheme has introduced for employees
Blakemore Retail Raises Child Safety Awareness and a Roarsome £52,000 for the NSPCC
September 04, 2018
Blakemore Retail SPAR stores across England and Wales have been on a bank holiday fundraising drive for the NSPCC while at the same time raising awareness about how parents can keep their children safe from sexual abuse
New Eat 17 Hammersmith Store Reinvents the Market Hall
August 14, 2018
Multi-award-winning fine food store and restaurant chain Eat 17 opens a new store in Hammersmith, complete with an indoor street food market and yoga classes
Blakemore SPARs Shortlisted for Forecourt Trader Awards
August 13, 2018
SPAR retailers across the Meridian & Welsh Guild have once again received notable recognition on this year’s Forecourt Trader Awards shortlist
A.F. Blakemore Warehouse Apprentice Well Picked
August 09, 2018
A go-getting young recruit at A.F. Blakemore celebrates becoming the first person to complete the company’s new Warehouse & Distribution apprenticeship programme
Retail Industry Awards 2018 Shortlist Announced
August 02, 2018
SPAR retailers represent a third of the finalists announced on the Retail Industry Awards shortlist
A.F. Blakemore to Publish Centenary Commemorative Publication
August 01, 2018
Register your interest for A.F. Blakemore’s centenary commemorative publication, celebrating 100 years in business
A.F. Blakemore Launches New Instagram Profile
July 31, 2018
A.F. Blakemore has enhanced its social media presence with the addition of a new Instagram profile
Learning & Development July News Roundup
July 29, 2018
Courses led by A.F. Blakemore’s Learning & Development department in July include a Facilitation Skills workshop and two-day Leading the Blakemore Way course
Blakemore Foodservice Inspires at LACA’s Main Event
July 25, 2018
Blakemore Foodservice teams up with supplier Pan’Artisan for the LACA’s education catering exhibition
Blakemore Retail Colleagues Honoured for NSPCC Fundraising
July 23, 2018
Blakemore Retail employees are honoured for going the extra mile to help raise more than £3 million for the NSPCC
Blakemore Retail Colleague Football Tournament Raises Over £1,000 for NSPCC
July 20, 2018
Colleagues take to the pitch for Blakemore Retail’s 10th annual football tournament in aid of the NSPCC
A.F. Blakemore Ranked 44th Largest Privately Owned Company in Britain
July 12, 2018
A.F. Blakemore & Son has been named the 44th largest privately owned company in Britain in the Sunday Times HSBC Top Track 100
Leading the Blakemore Way Refreshers: Spaces Available
July 05, 2018
A.F. Blakemore has spaces available for delegates on two of its upcoming Leading the Blakemore Way Refresher sessions
Blakemore Foodservice Crowned Favourite Delivered Wholesaler at HIM Wholesale Awards
July 03, 2018
Blakemore Foodservice scoops the title of Independent Foodservice Operator’s Favourite Delivered Wholesaler at the HIM Wholesale Awards
Phyllis Fellows Celebrates 45 Years’ Service
July 03, 2018
In June, Blakemore Foodservice’s Phyliss Fellows celebrated an incredible 45 years’ service with the business
A.F. Blakemore Rolls Out Equality, Inclusion & Diversity Sessions
July 03, 2018
A.F. Blakemore begins the rollout of a new Equality, Inclusion & Diversity (EID) awareness session across the company
Process Improvement Helps Blakemore Foundation Award Record Donations
July 02, 2018
A series of process improvement initiatives helped the Blakemore Foundation to award a record number of charitable donations to good causes in 2017/18
Blakemore Retail Conference 2018: Shaping Our Future - The Pace of Change
June 28, 2018
More than 500 store managers, field staff, A.F. Blakemore colleagues and suppliers attend Blakemore Retail’s Managers Conference to find out about future development plans
Blakemore Retail Fundraising for NSPCC Tops £3 Million
June 14, 2018
Blakemore Retail has raises £3 million to help the NSPCC make a difference to 800,000 children’s lives
Guild Academy Launches New Interactive Learning Modules
June 01, 2018
A.F. Blakemore’s Guild Academy extends its Interactive Learning programme for SPAR retailers with the launch of a new suite of online learning modules
Blakemore Retail Colleagues Receive Life-saving Training
May 31, 2018
Senior Regional Manager Owen Davies and Area Manager Donna Cooper join colleagues from SPAR Kidderminster to attend life-saving defibrillator training
Blakemore Trade Partners Launches New Innovation Platform
May 31, 2018
Blakemore Trade Partners launches a new innovation website at its 2018 colleague Communication Day
A.F. Blakemore Rolls Out Tonight’s Tea Concept across SPAR Stores
May 30, 2018
A.F. Blakemore is rolling out a new Tonight’s Tea concept across its company-owned and independent SPAR stores after a successful trial
SPAR Melton Raises £1,500 to Install Defibrillator
May 30, 2018
Colleagues at SPAR Melton raise funds for a life-saving defibrillator with a series of Easter-themed fundraisers
Blakemore Retail’s Owen Davies Sleeps Rough for Homeless Charities
May 29, 2018
Blakemore Retail Senior Regional Manager Owen Davies takes part in a sleep out to help raise awareness of homelessness
New Customer Service Programme Launched
May 29, 2018
A.F. Blakemore’s Learning & Development team launches a new Customer Service programme to share best practice and help ensure a consistent approach to handling queries across the business
SPAR Bakewell Relaunches with Ice-cream Counter and Insomnia Coffee
May 29, 2018
Blakemore Retail’s Bakewell SPAR store relaunches with serve-over ice-cream and fresh self-serve Insomnia coffee
Blakemore Logistics Helps 100 Young People into Work
May 28, 2018
Blakemore Logistics helps more than 100 young people into work as a result of a partnership with a West Midlands employability programme
British Athletics Partners SPAR to Boost Community Sport with People’s Podium
May 22, 2018
SPAR UK launches a new campaign designed to support community sport across the United Kingdom
SPAR Wins Top Titles at HIM Awards
May 11, 2018
SPAR UK scoops two wins at the HIM Awards 2018
New Facilitation Skills Course Piloted
May 03, 2018
A.F. Blakemore launches a new Facilitation Skills course to help cultivate leaders with the essential skills and capabilities to effectively facilitate meetings
AFB Colleagues Inspire Future Generations in Responsible Business Week
May 03, 2018
A.F. Blakemore colleagues participate in a week of educational events to raise the aspirations of young people as part of a national awareness campaign promoting responsible business
Blakemore Foodservice Showcases Latest Offer at West Midlands Trade Show
May 01, 2018
Blakemore Foodservice exhibits its latest offering to customers at a trade show in the West Midlands
A.F. Blakemore Launches Project Leadership V2.0
April 30, 2018
A new project leadership toolkit launches across A.F. Blakemore to support the delivery of key projects in the business
Apprentices Sharpen Team Member Skills
April 30, 2018
Ten apprentices participate in the A.F. Blakemore’s Effective Team Member course to enhance their skills and help build effective teams across the business
Blakemore Retail Colleagues Help Feed Over 70 at Worcester Street Kitchen
April 27, 2018
Colleagues from Blakemore Retail join forces with the Worcestershire Homeless Appeal to serve up meals to some of Worcester’s most vulnerable people
SPAR Thurcroft Re-launches at New Site
April 20, 2018
Blakemore Retail’s Thurcroft SPAR store in Rotherham relaunches with a brand new Greggs
A.F. Blakemore Welcomes New Starters on Company Induction
April 19, 2018
Each month It’s Your E-news goes along to A.F. Blakemore’s company induction to find out more about some of the business’s latest new joiners
A.F. Blakemore Showcases Latest IT Innovation to Co-op Estonia
April 05, 2018
A.F. Blakemore hosts Co-op Estonia to showcase some of the company’s latest innovation in technology
A.F. Blakemore Publishes First Gender Pay Gap Report
April 04, 2018
A.F. Blakemore publishes its first Gender Pay Gap Report, covering employee data for the 12 months to April 5th 2017
Charitable Giving Gets Eggstravagant for Easter
April 04, 2018
A.F. Blakemore employees make Easter ‘eggstra special’ for their local communities with charitable giving, volunteering and fundraising activities
Seven Questions with SPAR Retailer Conrad Davies
April 03, 2018
Leading convenience retailer Conrad Davies answers questions about his journey with SPAR and the success of his four-store-strong business
New SPAR Store Launches at Roadchef Strensham South
March 23, 2018
Blakemore Trade Partners launches a new SPAR store offering premium food to go at Roadchef Strensham South Services in Worcestershire
A.F. Blakemore Revered at Walsall Council Partner Awards
March 20, 2018
A.F. Blakemore is presented with Bronze Partner Status at the Walsall Works Partner Awards
A.F. Blakemore Welcomes New Starters on Company Induction
March 20, 2018
Each month It’s Your E-news goes along to A.F. Blakemore’s company induction to find out more about some of the business’s latest new joiners
A.F. Blakemore Welcomes 10th Cohort of ILM Level 2 Delegates
March 20, 2018
A.F. Blakemore welcomes its 10th cohort of delegates onto its ILM Level Two Certificate in Leadership & Team Skills programme
Blakemore Colleagues Praised for Service in Adverse Weather
March 19, 2018
SPAR retailers thank A.F. Blakemore colleagues for their commitment to customer service during the adverse weather in March
Blakemore Trade Partners and Fine Foods Launch New Apps
March 01, 2018
Blakemore Trade Partners and Blakemore Fine Foods launch new mobile apps to give their customers the ease of ordering on the go
New Future Leaders Apprenticeship Programme Gets Underway
February 28, 2018
A.F. Blakemore’s new Future Leaders Apprenticeship programme welcomes its first delegates
SPAR Announced as National Partner for IAAF World Indoor Championships
February 27, 2018
SPAR is announced as a National Partner for the IAAF World Indoor Championships Birmingham 2018
A.F. Blakemore Pilots Equality, Inclusion & Diversity Awareness Session
February 27, 2018
A.F. Blakemore pilots a new Equality, Inclusion & Diversity workshop to be rolled out across the company during 2018
Central Ordering Team Targets Improved Sales & Availability
February 27, 2018
A central ordering team set up to increase in-store availability and sales whilst reducing wastage across the company’s SPAR estate has expanded a pilot programme
A.F. Blakemore Honoured at Apprenticeship Awards
February 21, 2018
A.F. Blakemore is crowned Employer of the Year at the Performance Through People Achievement Awards
A.F. Blakemore Spreads the Word on Responsible Business
February 15, 2018
More than 30 business leaders, council heads and community organisations from across Walsall join together to investigate collaborative ways to address key challenges across the borough
A.F. Blakemore Welcomes New Starters on Company Induction
February 12, 2018
Each month It’s Your E-news goes along to A.F. Blakemore’s company induction to find out more about some of the business’s latest new joiners
Inside Eat 17’s Latest Store at Bishop’s Stortford
January 31, 2018
A.F. Blakemore and entrepreneurial business partners James Brundle and Chris O’Connor opened their latest Eat 17 store in the Hertfordshire town of Bishop’s Stortford in November
Colleagues to Donate Food Worth £240 to Food Banks
January 31, 2018
A.F. Blakemore is to present two food banks with food worth £240 thanks to colleagues’ generous donations of Christmas gift vouchers
Blakemore Retail Colleagues Raise £1,112 for Derbyshire Hospice
January 30, 2018
Blakemore Retail colleagues from four stores in Derbyshire fundraise £1,112 for Ashgate Hospicecare
Defibrillator Installation Now Complete Across AFB RDCs
January 30, 2018
A.F. Blakemore’s rollout of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across its retail distribution centres is now complete
AFB Graduates Attend Leading the Blakemore Way
January 29, 2018
A.F. Blakemore’s most recent graduate joiners attend a three-day residential Leading the Blakemore Way course
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Staff Zone News
January 17, 2019
A.F. Blakemore Welcomes New Starters on Company Induction
January 03, 2019
A.F. Blakemore Relaunches Payroll Giving across the Business
January 03, 2019
New Blakemore Retail Magazine Out Now
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