UK. An audience of over 500, including Alpha Retail management and staff, suppliers, airlines and airports packed the Alpha Heroes gala dinner and awards ceremony in Birmingham last night.
The event was the culmination of the industry’s most ambitious employee incentive and recognition scheme. It focused on the critical role played by staff – both front and back office – in all aspects of the company’s success.
Some 1300 staff were nominated (all by their peers) for the awards, which recognised both team and individual roles. 385 were selected for the interview process leading up to the winners who were named at last night’s dinner.
Introducing the evening, Alpha Retail managing director David King said: “There are a lot of unsung heroes in this company. We absolutely appreciate what people do at all levels of our business.”
The individual winner of the front-of-house award was Carol McLeod of Retail Catering Luton, who King said “knows what the customer wants even before they do”. The front-of-house team award went to Alpha Airport Shopping, Newcastle.
Back-of house individual award went to David Griffiths from the Service Support Centre in company headquarters at Green Lane near London Heathrow Airport. The back-of-house team award was won by MPL (Master Price Lists) Service Support Centre.
Unusually, the event also recognised the best perfume consultants, even though these individuals are employed by the perfume houses. Yvonne Miles, who represents Calvin Klein beauty products at Birmingham International Airport, won the award ahead of highly-commended Zenda Barlow. King said: “She is totally customer-focused whether that customer is internal or external.”
Here is the full list of winners and sponsors:
Overall Front of House Individual Award
Sponsored by
Lancaster Group
2004 Winner
Carol McLeod. Alpha Retail Catering, Luton.
Overall Front of House Team Award
Sponsored by
Lancaster Group
2004 Winners
The Management Team. Alpha Airport Shopping, Newcastle.
Overall Back of House Individual Award
Sponsored by
Cadbury Trebor
2004 Winner
David Griffiths. Service Support Centre. Green Lane.
Overall Back of House Team Award
Sponsored by
British American Tobacco
2004 Winners
The Master Price List Team. Service Support Centre. Green Lane.
Alpha Airport Shopping Individual Award
Sponsored by
Allied Domecq
2004 Winner
Craig Neil. Birmingham.
Alpha Airport Shopping Team Award
Sponsored by
Imperial Tobacco International Ltd
2004 Winners
Exeter.
Glorious Britain Individual Award
Sponsored by
Walkers Shortbread Ltd
2004 Winner
Gaby Rutkowski. T4 London Heathrow.
Glorious Britain Team Award
Sponsored by
British Airports Authority
2004 Winners
Stansted.
World News Individual Award
Sponsored by
Coca Cola
2004 Winner
Michael Davison. T3 London Heathrow.
World News Team Award
Sponsored by
Now Magazine
2004 Winners
Management Team. T3 London Heathrow Airport.
Alpha Retail Catering Individual Award
2004 Winner
Pam Thomas.
Bar 08, Manchester Airport.
Alpha Retail Catering Team Award
2004 Winners
Bar 08, Manchester.
Alpha Retail Perfume Consultant Award
Sponsored by Allan Nuttall Ltd
Yvonne Miles. Calvin Klein, Birmingham.
Service Support Centre Individual Award
2004 Winner
Andy Garrick.
Print and Production. Green Lane
Service Support Centre Team Award
2004 Winners
Design and Development Green Lane
World News & Glorious Britain General Manager Award
2004 Winner
Philip Logan
World News. Luton
Alpha Retail Catering General Manager Award
2004 Winner
Clive Skilton.
Jersey.
Alpha Airport Shopping General Manager Award
2004 Winner
Laura Grundy
Humberside
Alpha Hero Linda Caudwell Award
2004 Winner
Martin Smith
Alpha Retail Catering. Dublin
Other prizes
Inverness Alpha Retail Catering Team – ” Beyond the call of duty” spot prize
Chris Murray. Systems Support. Green Lane – “Any time, any place, any where” spot prize
Mark Read. Warehouse. Humberside. Alpha Airport Shopping – “Coolest Guy” spot prize
Comment: The success of Alpha’s ambition and determination to recognise the role of its staff sends a message out to the whole travel retail industry. This business may have the best products in the world, at its best and most prestigious travel locations. But the basic human interface between employee and consumer can make a critical difference in how those products sell.
Many companies in travel retail put a high value on staff training and incentives, others pay little more than lip service. In conceiving and operating this scheme, Alpha did more than any company to date in placing the recognition where it should be. One suspects that there will be many Alpha Retail employees who will go to work this week and in the words of David King “be prepared to go the extra mile”.
