BIG SWITCH FOR 16 BRANCHES MOVING TO MIDCOUNTIES CO-OPERATIVE STEWARDSHIP

TOWN EMPLOYEES SET TO RETURN IN MID-AUGUST WITH STATION STREET BUSINESS PRIORITISING COVID-19 SAFEGUARDING MEASURES

EMPLOYEES at Atherstone's Co-op travel store are on the move but won't be "leaving the building" any time soon.

Instead, when workers return to the Station Street branch after five months of Covid-19 lockdown, they will find themselves "under new management".

For the staff are being transferred to another part of the retail giant's business empire.

Some 16 travel branches are to switch from Central England Co-operative to Co-operative Travel, a division of Midcounties Co-operative which is the UK's largest independent consumer co-op.

The agreement will see all the staff at the town's Central England Co-operative branch in Atherstone join Midcounties' Co-operative Travel brand.

The town's Co-op travel agency has been closed since virus restrictions were implemented on March 23.

It is now scheduled to reopen in mid-August, subject to consultation.

To adhere to social distancing rules, all Co-operative Travel branches across England's mid counties will initially operate an appointment system.

Customers will be able to book their appointment via www.cooptravel.co.uk/request-an-appointment and, once this appointment is confirmed, they will receive a voucher for £75 off their next holiday*.

To safeguard customers and colleagues, the branches will operate with a reduced number of staff to ensure safe distancing of desks and services, and there will be limits on the number of customers in branch at any one time.

Protective screens will be mounted at desks, PPE will be worn by staff, hand sanitiser provided and a rigorous cleaning schedule followed.

Customers are welcome to wear personally provided PPE, but this is not mandatory, Co-op Travel says.

The transfer is an example of the wider co-operative movement working together to reduce costs, while continuing to offer co-operative solutions to members' travel needs.

Across several counties, 78 former Central England Co-operative colleagues will join Co-operative Travel – with the move bringing Midcounties' portfolio of Co-operative Travel shops to more than 70.

Customers are also able to book their holidays online at www.cooptravel.co.uk.

Rad Sofronijevic, chief operating officer of Midcounties Co-operative's travel division, said: "These have been extraordinary times for the whole travel sector, but with lockdown measures easing we're well placed to grow from strength to strength.

"Travel is core to Midcounties' long-term strategy and when we learned that Central England Co-operative was looking to emphasise its focus on other divisions and move away from travel, we wanted to take the opportunity to bring these branches under the Midcounties retail umbrella and further strengthen our offering.

"With our scale and expertise, we look forward to helping grow and nurture the former Central England Co-operative branches to ensure their success in the future".

A spokeswoman for Central England Co-operative said: "Central England and Midcounties have a longstanding and positive relationship, with Central England recently joining Midcounties' travel buying consortium following the demise of Thomas Cook.

"The coming together of the two businesses will enable the continuation of a Co-operative travel offer for our members and customers and the continued employment for a number of colleagues".

Natalie Turner, head of branches for Co-operative Travel, said: "I am delighted that we will soon welcome Atherstone to our portfolio.

"The shop boasts a prime location and provides the opportunity for Midcounties' Co-operative Travel brand to expand our presence across Warwickshire.

"We look forward to welcoming our new colleagues into the fold, helping them to navigate the new normal in travel and grow and succeed under Midcounties' retail Co-operative Travel umbrella."

In addition to Atherstone, the other 15 branches transferring to Midcounties Co-operative are Allenton (Derbyshire), Beccles & Lowestoft (Suffolk), Castle Donington, Erdington (West Midlands), Glenfield, Ibstock and Whetstone (Leicestershire), Diss, Kings Lynn and Thetford (Norfolk), Market Deeping (Lincolnshire), Oakham (Rutland), March and Peterborough (Cambridgeshire).

In 2018, Central England Co-operative agreed the transfer of six branches of Thomas Cook to join its retail network.

Branches based in Central England Co-op food stores, including Atherstone, moved over to Central England Co-Operative.