The Post Office is pleased to announce the appointment of Juliet Crisp as the new head of people strategy, planning and governance.
With a proven track record in HR leadership and talent development, Crisp brings a wealth of experience from her previous roles at Whitbread, SSP Group, and Tesco.
Her most recent role at Whitbread saw her develop and implement the company-wide talent strategy and at SSP, she led HR for the group and UK office, focusing on enhancing business performance through effective people strategies.
Her 25-year tenure at Tesco, culminating as head of human resources for online and customer fulfilment, showcased her ability to manage large-scale HR functions and drive significant organisational change.
Crisp said: “I am excited to join the Post Office at such a pivotal time in its history. The introduction of our new company-wide people strategy marks a significant step in our cultural transformation journey. By fostering curiosity, accountability, and support within our teams, and focusing on colleague experience, we are not only strengthening our internal culture but also enhancing the service we provide to Postmasters and customers alike. I look forward to working with colleagues to help drive positive change across the organisation.”
Juliet Crisp (L) visits a post office in London with head of directly managed branches at Post Office (Photo: LinkedIn)
The Post Office’s new people strategy focuses on three priorities: colleague experience, capability and inclusion. In addition, Post Office’s new company-wide behaviours - Be curious, Move it forward, Own the outcome and Back each other - are designed to cultivate an environment where innovation, accountability, and mutual support thrive.
This initiative is part of the Post Office's commitment to creating a workplace culture that supports efforts to create a postmaster-centric organisation.
“Juliet's deep expertise in HR transformation and her passion for talent development are exactly what we need as we embark on this new chapter. Her leadership will be instrumental in driving our cultural change initiatives, ensuring we continue to support and engage with our people effectively,” Karen McEwan, group chief people officer, said.
Crisp’s appointment to the Post Office People function is one of a number of hires made by McEwan, who joined the business in September 2023.
This includes Hawa Newell-Sydique who recently joined as people director – talent and capability. She was most recently at Selfridges where she was the director of talent, learning and diversity, equity & inclusion and Tim Perkins who was previously at the Post Office and has rejoined from Marks & Spencer and is the Post Office’s people services director.
Newcastle United has announced the early extension of its partnership with parcel delivery service, InPost. This follows a very successful first 12 months which has seen a number of community activations reach thousands of fans in the North East.
To kick off the partnership, InPost installed bespoke Lockers at St. James’s Park, the first in the country at a Premier League stadium, and has since gone on to form a key part of the club’s newly launched ecommerce offering, giving fans the option of online deliveries to be sent to any InPost Locker across the UK.
As well as using their logistical expertise to benefit supporters, InPost has partnered with the club and Newcastle United Foundation on a number of community initiatives.
As part of an innovative campaign to support the club’s mental health engagements in October 2024, InPost captured personal wellbeing messages from first team players and placed them inside its lockers for its customers to read – proving “what’s inside really does matter”.
Building on this message of mental wellbeing and community connection, this month the Newcastle United Foundation will launch a collaborative art project with InPost. The project will feature artwork created by local school pupils, alongside contributions from a talented local artist. This project will provide visitors to the Foundation with a thoughtful and engaging display that celebrates the creativity and spirit of the local community.
“Over the past 12 months, InPost has become immersed in the football club and city,” said Newcastle United’s Chief Commercial Officer, Peter Silverstone. “We have been able to offer bespoke, localised services to our supporters which are powerful, positive and meaningful to the Newcastle community. As a result, this partnership has been a resounding success for both parties and is testament to the incredible spirit that has been forged so quickly with InPost.”
Michael Rouse, CEO International of InPost group, added: “Our partnership with Newcastle United reflects a shared ambition to make a tangible difference – both for the club’s supporters and the wider community. Together, we are building meaningful connections with thousands of consumers and supporting the communities at the heart of InPost and Newcastle United.
“We look forward to growing this partnership and providing even more consumers with new initiatives and innovative delivery solutions for the future.”
The Scottish Grocers’ Federation (SGF), the Trade Association for the Scottish Convenience sector, said that small retailers are desperate to invest in their businesses, and take advantage of new technologies and sustainable practices, but many stores are now struggling to stay viable.
SGF has called on the Scottish Finance Secretary to ensure that 40% reliefs on Non-Domestic Rates announced for retail businesses south of the border are passed on to Scottish stores. Alongside the extra reliefs, SGF say that the Scottish Government should focus on growth by ringfencing funding through the Small Business Bonus Scheme and freezing poundage for the foreseeable future.
“The Scottish Government has a real opportunity to boost growth in communities across Scotland, and help rejuvenate town centres, by passing on the NDR reliefs announced by the Chancellor," said SGF Chief Executive, Dr Pete Cheema OBE.
“In past years, convenience stores in England have benefited from 75 per cent reliefs, that support has dropped to 40 per cent this year, but it could still be crucial in helping put the Scottish Economy back on track.
“Many SGF members, and small store across Scotland, are facing a raft of challenges. Alongside increases to National Insurance Contributions, hire wage rates, higher inflation, energy costs and the cost-of-living crisis. Not to mention a pile on of regulation across a range of product categories.
“Scottish Businesses have been operating at an economic disadvantage to our counterparts in England. Sorting out the damaging impact of business rates on economic growth and small business in Scotland is a no brainer.”
SGF has also called for an uplift for Police Scotland and Scottish Justice to help tackle the sharp increase in retail crime which is having a significant impact on business viability.
Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, today announces the appointment of Alison Acquaye-Acford as Director of Commercial Partnerships and Retail Sales.
With a career in retail spanning almost three decades, Alison joins Allwyn from Acosta Europe where, in her role as Business Unit Director, she was responsible for transforming the growth of client brands including Red Bull. She also spearheaded various revenue-driving projects that contributed to Acosta’s most successful year yet.
Prior to this, Alison held senior leadership roles for seven years at Pepsico with a focus on Pipers Crisps – overseeing the growth of its independent retailer customer base, leading the integration of teams after its acquisition by Pepsico, and bringing in innovative technology to increase sales and engagement.
Alison has also held roles at Heineken UK, GlaxoSmithKline, Coca-Cola and Schweppes Beverages.
“I’m delighted to be joining Allwyn and leading retail operations at such an exciting time for the business," said Alison. "Everyone knows the amazing good that The National Lottery does – whether that’s winners winning life-changing prizes, or the Good Causes making lives better around the UK every single day. It clearly has an incredibly important role in the UK and its success would not be possible without the commitment and advocacy of our retail partners.”
Allwyn’s Operations Director, Jenny Blogg, said, “With the appointment of Alison, we’re bringing in an experienced senior leader who has a deep understanding of retail. This directly speaks to the enormous role our retail channel has in our exciting plans to restore the magic to The National Lottery and deliver responsible growth, enabling us to raise more money than ever before for Good Causes.”
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Climate activists march on a street to demand stronger global commitments to fight plastic waste at the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5), in Busan, South Korea, November 23, 2024
Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution failed to reach agreement on Monday, with more than 100 nations wanting to cap production while a handful of oil-producers were prepared only to target plastic waste.
The fifth UN Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) meeting intended to yield a legally binding global treaty in Busan, South Korea, was meant to be the final one.
However, countries remained far apart on the basic scope of a treaty and could agree only to postpone key decisions and resume talks, dubbed INC 5.2, to a later date.
"It is clear that there is still persisting divergence," said Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Programme.
The most divisive issues included capping plastic production, managing plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to help developing countries implement the treaty.
An option proposed by Panama, backed by more than 100 countries, would have created a path for a global plastic production reduction target, while another proposal did not include production caps.
The fault lines were apparent in a revised document released on Sunday by the meeting's chair Luis Vayas Valdivieso, which may form the basis of a treaty, but remained riddled with options on the most sensitive issues.
"A treaty that ... only relies on voluntary measures would not be acceptable," said Juliet Kabera, director general of Rwanda's Environment Management Authority.
"It is time we take it seriously and negotiate a treaty that is fit for purpose and not built to fail."
A small number of petrochemical-producing nations, such as Saudi Arabia, have strongly opposed efforts to reduce plastic production and have tried to use procedural tactics to delay negotiations.
"There was never any consensus," said Saudi Arabian delegate Abdulrahman Al Gwaiz. "There are a couple of articles that somehow seem to make it (into the document) despite our continued insistence that they are not within the scope."
China, the US, India, South Korea and Saudi Arabia were the top five primary polymer-producing nations in 2023, according to data provider Eunomia.
Entrenched divisions
Had such divisions been overcome, the treaty would have been one of the most significant deals relating to environmental protection since the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The postponement comes just days after the turbulent conclusion of the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan.
At Baku, countries set a new global target for mobilizing $300 billion annually in climate finance, a deal deemed woefully insufficient by small island states and many developing countries.
The climate talks were also slowed by procedural manoeuvres by Saudi Arabia – who objected to the inclusion of language that reaffirmed a previous commitment to transition away from fossil fuels.
Some negotiators said a few countries held the proceedings hostage, avoiding compromises needed by using the UN's consensus process.
Senegal's National Delegate Cheikh Ndiaye Sylla called it "a big mistake" to exclude voting during the entire negotiations, an agreement made last year during the second round of talks in Paris.
"This outcome underscores the complexity of addressing plastic pollution on a global scale and the need for further deliberations to achieve an effective, inclusive and workable treaty," said Chris Jahn, council secretary of the International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA), representing plastic makers.
"There is little assurance that the next INC will succeed where INC-5 did not," environmental group GAIA said.
Plastic production is on track to triple by 2050, and microplastics have been found in the air, fresh produce and even human breast milk.
Chemicals found to be of concern in plastics include more than 3,200 according to a 2023 U.N. Environment Programme report, which said women and children were particularly susceptible to their toxicity.
Despite the postponement, several negotiators expressed urgency to get back into talks.
"Every day of delay is a day against humanity. Postponing negotiations does not postpone the crisis," said Panama's delegation head Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez on Sunday.
"When we reconvene, the stakes will be higher."
(Reuters)
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In an aerial view, fall foliage is visible as grape vine leaves change colors at a vineyard on November 14, 2024 in Napa, California.
Global wine production is set to fall again this year to its lowest level since 1961 due to climate change, the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) said Friday.
Output is estimated to reach between 227 million and 235 million hectolitres in 29 countries accounting for 85 percent of global production, according to the intergovernmental organisation.
If production reaches the midpoint of 231 million hectolitres, it would be down 2 per cent from 2023 and a drop of 13 per cent compared to the average of the 10 previous years.
"Climatic challenges across both hemispheres are once again major contributors to the reduced global production volume," OIV said in a report.
"The preliminary estimates reveal a complex landscape of climatic disruptions across EU wine regions due to climate change," it said.
"As with 2023, extreme or atypical meteorological events are the key influence on global production, with early frosts, heavy rainfall, and prolonged drought dramatically impacting vineyard productivity."
European production, which accounts for 60 per cent of the global total, is down 11 per cent overall, with only Hungary and Portugal producing wine at levels near average. At current trends, Europe's production will be the lowest in the 21st century, according to OIV head of statistics Giorgio Delgrosso.
Output in France, the biggest producer last year, is set to fall by 23 per cent to 36.9 million hectolitres, the largest drop in the sector.
Italy recovered slightly from last year's low volume to reach 41 million hectolitres and reclaim the top spot ahead of France. Spain remains Europe's third-largest producer.
In the southern hemisphere, which accounts for about 20 per cent of world wine output, production is at its lowest in two decades.
OIV director John Barker said there was an "increasing volatility" and that southern countries could no longer make up for shortfalls when there are problems in northern-hemisphere countries.
He said the wine industry had to find answers to deal with the growing impact of climate change and sustainability.
"Only a small group of regions - notably the United States and several Eastern European countries including Hungary, Georgia, and Moldova - enjoyed more favourable climatic conditions, achieving average or above-average production volumes," OIV said.
The IWSR drinks consultancy said that wine consumption also fell by 3.9 per cent in the first six months of the year, mainly because of consumers changing habits.
Wine drinking has fallen 20 per cent since 2019, according to IWSR. It said that only consumption of Italian sparkling prosecco had increased in the first six months of 2024. Consumption of French champagne was down 8.6 per cent.