SPAR Partner, A.F. Blakemore, is celebrating 100 years of business and has undertaken a number of new initiatives that add value to the local communities it serves.

Installation of defibrillators

The partner has purchased 10 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to be installed at seven main sites including head office and distribution centres, reflecting their commitment to creating a good working environment for employees.

At each of the seven sites, the defibrillators will be located on the wall in lockable boxes. In the case of an emergency, the code for the box can be retrieved by calling 999. No training is required to use a defibrillator and applying it to someone who does not need it will not cause harm.

The company’s Group Health & Safety department will be promoting awareness amongst colleagues along with the support of Duncan Parsonage of Abacus Training – a state-registered paramedic with a mission to ensure timely public accessibility to defibrillators in emergencies.

Group Board Director, Tom Blakemore, said: “As a large family business we have a responsibility to provide access to the most up-to-date life-saving equipment should an emergency ever arise. A defibrillator is an essential step in the chain of survival when dealing with sudden cardiac arrest, and by making plans to install 10 at our larger sites across the business with higher footfall, we have made sure that staff and visitors to the buildings receive the best possible chance.”

Celebrating 100 years with ‘100’ challenges

As part of A.F. Blakemore & Son’s centenary celebrations, a number of Blakemore colleagues have raised more than £5,000 by taking part in a series of unusual and challenging ‘100’ themed fundraising activities.

Colleagues set individual and group challenges with a centenary theme to raise money for various charities of their choice, including the Alzheimer’s Society, the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, and Bloodwise, a leukaemia and lymphoma research charity, to name just a few.

Some challenges were personal goals, with several colleagues aiming to lose weight by the 100^th year anniversary, while others organised 100-mile walks and bike rides.