The East of England Co-operative Society’s Training Department has received a special award for its work as a City and Guilds Approved Centre.

The Society offers a range of vocational training to its employees, and has been working with City and Guilds as an awarding body for around three years.

Carol Bland, from City and Guilds, presented Richard Samson, Chief Executive, and Nanette White, Training Services Controller, with the Centre Plaque to show that they value the work the Society does as an Approved Training Centre. 

Richard Samson said: “It is great to receive recognition from City and Guilds for the work that Nanette and her colleagues have done for the Society to qualify as an Approved Training Centre. The Training Department team works hard to help Society colleagues to advance themselves and improve their skills by undertaking these qualifications.”

Based at the East of England Co-operative Society’s headquarters at Wherstead Park, Suffolk, the Training Department provides training to employees across Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex. 

Vocational qualifications in retail, business and administration, as well as adult learning in literacy and numeracy, are run by a team of assessors, with around 160 employees currently taking vocational qualifications.   

City & Guilds is the UK's leading provider of work-related qualifications. City & Guilds works closely with industry and employers and offers over 500 qualifications in 28 different industry areas, through colleges, training providers and employers.

PHOTO CAPTION: Carol Bland from City and Guilds (second from left) with Richard Samson, Chief Executive (left), and colleagues from the Society’s Training Department.

Note to Editors:

• The East of England Co-operative Society is the largest independent retailer in East Anglia and has over 200 trading outlets which are located in 74 towns and villages, including the three regional centres of Norwich, Ipswich and Colchester.


• The Society’s diverse business activities include: supermarkets and food stores, travel, pharmacy, optical and funeral branches, petrol forecourts, motor dealership, training academy and events and conference centre. 

For further information:
Laura Bennett, Public Relations Officer, East of England Co-operative Society,
Wherstead Park, The Street, Wherstead, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP9 2BJ    
E-mail: l.bennett@eastofengland.coop