SPAR UK Partner recognised for community-building youth employment programme
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd, the SPAR UK Partner for the West Midlands, has been named a Finalist of the 2019 Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards – the UK’s longest running and most prestigious awards programme, championing responsible business both locally and abroad.
The SPAR Partner has been recognised in the Education Partnerships category for its ‘Branching Out’ programme, which encourages young people to enter the world of work by improving their employability skills and supporting the recruitment and development of future talent with enterprise events, practice interviews, CV writing workshops, study tours, and mentoring sessions.
Since it was established in January 2017, 693 employee volunteers have donated almost 4,000 hours engaging with 3,312 students across 63 primary and secondary schools. The programme also provides employment opportunities within the business itself and since 2017, 183 young people have gained employment with A.F. Blakemore via activity related to Branching Out.
Source: SPAR UK
About SPAR UK
The United Kingdom (UK) became a member of SPAR in 1956 when a group of independent wholesalers obtained the SPAR licence from SPAR International. There are five regional partners with strategically placed Distribution Centres in each region. A Central Office located in London provides national Marketing and Buying services for the group and supports the development of the SPAR Brand in the UK.
SPAR has led the convenience market in the UK for many years but has faced increasing competition in recent times. Always innovative, SPAR Partners have continued to grow the brand. A combination of independently-owned licensed retailers and company-owned stores spanning forecourts, airports, train stations, city centres and local neighbourhoods can be found throughout the country.
