Team scales new heights

LUNCHTIME . . . at the Widdop event at Mahdlo

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WIDDOP and Co supplies trade customers with gift products such as photograph frames, clocks, figurines, home accessories and crystal.

It has sales staff based at its Chadderton head office and on regional patches around the UK and Ireland.

Widdop is also a business patron of Mahdlo Youth Zone and it now holds its annual sales team meeting at the venue.

The event brings together all Widdop's sales team face-to-face. This provides important opportunities for all sales staff to meet each other, to recognise achievements, raise awareness of new products and plan ahead for the forthcoming year of business. Widdop said the wide variety of activities offered at Mahdlo gives staff a much better opportunity to mix, get to know each other better, communicate and bond, locally and nationally.

I met Widdop marketing manager Susan Grant,who outlined the day's activities.

She said: "We have got all our sales staff together from across the UK and Ireland. This includes our office staff and people who are out on the road. There are 50 people here today and this annual sales conference is one of the few times of the year when sales staff all get the chance to meet each other face-to-face. This is the second time we've held the sales event at Mahdlo. The day includes sales awards, a review of our work over the past 12 months, a look at new products and a speaker. We also look at challenges we face, such as Brexit and the impact of currency changes to our business, such as the price of goods we may buy from overseas."

Speaking about Mahdlo as a venue for business events, she said: "It's a great venue with a range of rooms and spaces. Mahdlo also has catering facilities and a dining area, so we have breakfast with coffee, pastries and bacon butties, and then a hot lunch.

"The Mahdlo staff are very helpful. I work with Mahdlo's Claire Crossfield who makes things very easy. They asked us about the food menu and any special dietary needs, such as vegan, vegetarian or wheat-free food. They also gave us plenty of advance access to the rooms to put up display stands, projection screens and set out the tables.

Fantastic

"The sports hall and climbing wall is great. Last year, we played dodge ball but this year we had climbing and abseiling, which is fantastic.

At the climbing wall, I spoke to Megan Rippingdale and Peter Skuse.

Megan (20) is on a work placement with Widdop. She said: "Going up the climbing the wall was tough but good fun. Everybody was cheering me on."

Peter (46) is a Widdop key sales account manager who is also well-known in the world of cricket.

Originally from Australia, he has played cricket professionally for Queensland and with amateur teams in England including north west teams Walsden, Radcliffe and Saddleworth. He currently plays for Stayley in the Pennine Cricket League.

He said: "I've been with Widdop for 11 years and it's a family-run business where everyone is treated the same way. Physical challenges are good for people. Challenges help people to tackle their fears and also provide a few laughs. Achievements help you to feel good about yourself, which is also important."

Another sales team member is Shirley Entwistle (51) from Chadderton. She is based in Widdop's head office and has been with the firm for eight years.

A former Mills Hill and North Chadderton School pupil, she said: "I think it's great. It's ideal for team-bonding activities and conferences."

Widdop sales director Andrew Illingworth said: "We think Mahdlo is an excellent venue and organisation for supporting young people. I must also highlight Terry Flanagan, the Mahdlo chairman, who is an excellent leader."

For more details contact Claire Crossfield or Alex Herod. Email: claire.crossfield@mahdloyz.org or alex.herod@mahdloyz.org.