NEWS ROUND UP
Where trading losses are allowed to run and run
WH Smith’s Trading Loss team help towards £2 million target as part its 225th anniversary celebration year.
There are few retailers who actively encourage their trading losses to run and run, but for WH Smith, which is celebrating its 225th anniversary, staff are being urged to take part in charity events including Race for Life events across the UK. 2017 sees Britain’s oldest high street stationer on a mission to raise £2 million for three leading charities – Cancer Research UK, MIND and the National Literacy Trust. WH Smith’s Trading Losses Team which manages loss prevention across the group, has been on the front-foot of the campaign with Colin Peters, Chris Waller, Vince Mehigan, Jemma Redland and Michelle Williams taking part in the Race for Life 5k around Hyde Park and team member Gavin Goodall running the line as an event marshal.
Overall, more than 100 WH Smith employees took part in the event in May as well as organising other events in and around the London group head office and the Swindon base for the business’s travel trading losses.
Dare devil Jemma Redland from the team is also taking part in a parachute jump to boost the fund later in the year. Chris Waller, senior trading losses analyst for WH Smith Travel, a keen runner who is in training for a half-marathon later in the year, said: “We have all got involved in whatever way we can. Running is something I love doing, although I have only recently taken it up again. “I did a 10k in Reading in May, but I will leave the parachute jumping to more daring colleagues such as Jemma. “We dressed as superheroes to make it a bit of fun as well. We had tried to get cops and robbers costumes as it fits with the role that we do, but they are really hard to get hold of!”
Colin Peters, who heads up Trading Losses across the group, added: “As an anniversary year we wanted to do something special and these are three charities close to our hearts as a business. “The Hyde Park event was a challenge and reminded me why I gave up running – but it was ultimately rewarding as we stride for the £2 million.”
Victoria Floyd, Business Development Manager at Cancer Research UK, which will receive £1 million of the £2 million target, said: “It’s been brilliant to see WH Smith staff from across the country embracing the challenge to raise £1million for Cancer Research UK. They’re getting involved in so many ways, including taking part in Race for Life events across the country, and soon they’ll be able to get involved in our Stand Up To Cancer fundraising campaign too! “We’ve made amazing progress in the fight against cancer over the past few decades. But, the statics are still stark. One in two people born after 1960 will be diagnosed with cancer so it’s vital we do everything we can now to accelerate progress to beat this disease. We’re incredibly grateful to WH Smith and all its staff for their support.”
