A major employer in my constituency is marking 40 years of serving the community this year.
Asda in Fulwood is a 24-hour operation that employs 250 people and, impressively, trains every new manager for Asda stores in the North West.
I was shown around by manager John Brooksbank, who told me about some of the improvements he’s made since coming to Fulwood.
One development has been a major refurbishment of the clothing department in October, which has transformed the store.
Millie, the George department manager, originally worked with John at the Accrington branch aged 18. She’s risen through the ranks via an Asda development programme and now leads a team of 15.
Nurturing careers
Harvey, who I also met, has a similar story of growing his career with the business to become GM manager at Fulwood.
In September, the store is taking its commitment to nurturing careers to another level. Working with Myerscough College and national charity DFN Project SEARCH, a supported internship programme helping young adults with learning disabilities, it will take on six interns for a year-long programme aimed at getting them into work.
Further around the store, via the World Cup and summer displays, I met Lynn, who joined the business after John decided the Fulwood store needed a community champion.
Donations
She goes out to foodbanks with donations and works with charities in the community to offer the business’s support.
A collection as part of the National Year of Reading hit 1,200 books to be given to children and she’s worked with a local cricket club to access a grant from the Asda Foundation. She’s currently touching base with schools to arrange deliveries of refreshments and fruit as part of a World Cup programme.
I was impressed by the initiatives Asda is running to make sure it makes an impact, while it caters for shoppers.
It was great to meet John and his colleagues and I took away some of his feedback about issues like shoplifting, which I’ll be raising in Westminster.
