Introducing our Values Champions
On 1st May, three of our directors, Mark, Sharon and Neil, celebrated the success of our 10 Values Champions winners with a lunch at the Mezzanine Restaurant at Tong Garden Centre.
Throughout 2024, the team at all seven of our sites voted for their colleagues to be recognised as monthly Values Award Winners in the seven categories of Team, Honest, Respectful, Excellence, Accountable, Climate and Community and Positive. The management team then selected the ten overall champions from the monthly winners.
The annual awards are organised by our People and Culture team. Director, Neil Barwise-Carr, said: “While we usually host a big annual awards evening, we switched things up this year with local breakfast ceremonies at our sites, which created a real sense of pride and celebration.
“With 548 nominations, 61 shortlisted team members, and 10 incredible champions crowned, we’ve truly seen the spirit of our values shine through.
“Huge congratulations to all our nominees and a massive shoutout to this year’s Values Champions — we’re proud of each and every one of you!”
The awards were presented to:
– Team Values Champions Ian Hoyle, Chef who was formerly at Tong and is now at Pennine Garden Centre and Richard Kettlestring, Retail Supervisor at Dean’s York
– Honest Values Champion Louis Shepherd, Mission Out Team Leader at Tingley
– Respectful Values Champions Marina Janetta, Catering Manager at Otley Garden Centre and Karen Hopkins, Retail Supervisor at Tong
– Excellence Values Champion Emily Edmond, Buyer for the Group
– Accountable Value Champion Andy Bradley, Centre Manager at Otley
– Climate and Community Values Champions Lynsey Dyson, Retail Supervisor at Otley and Chantelle Brayson, Customer Service Assistant at Tong
– Positive Value Champion Sarah Mark, Catering Assistant at Tingley
Respectful Values Champion Marina Jannetta chose theatre tickets as her prize so she could go with her family. She said: “I am so unbelievably grateful not just for the gift, but for the support, the belief and the recognition that I am doing a good job and more importantly that I am a good person, doing a good job.”
Congratulations to all our winners and the fabulous team mates who recommended them. Together, we make Yorkshire Garden Centres a GREAT place to work.
