NEIL CELEBRATES 40 YEARS WITH THE HEART OF ENGLAND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY

A Coventry man who started working life as a 16-year-old Apprentice Technician with the Heart of England Co-operative has marked 40 years with the Society.

During his apprenticeship Neil Morris attended college and studied both technical, managerial and design topics over a six year period, funded by the Society.

The 56-year-old joined the Society straight from school but was very keen to climb the ladder.

Following his apprenticeship and backed by the Society, he signed himself up to study a number of management-related subjects including law and management, and management and computer aided design.

Upon completion of his apprenticeship Neil was promoted to Transport Supervisor and then to Workshop Foreman where he was put in charge of a team of 14 mechanics, carpenters, painters and coach builders.

Neil went on to become Transport Manager and it was from here, in the early 1990s, he made the transition into Property Services.

Neil’s responsibilities include any new building project within the Society – whether an acquisition, a renovation or an extension.

He works closely with the General Managers of the Society’s Divisions whenever the opportunity for a new branch or the refurbishment, extension or renovation of an existing branch surfaces.

Neil, who lives in Coventry and has a daughter, Sheryl, said: "I have had a wonderful 40 years at the Heart of England Co-operative Society. It has been a long and interesting journey which has presented many challenges and which has been very rewarding."

Ali Kurji, Chief Executive of the Society, said: "Our congratulations to Neil for reaching this 40-year milestone with us. He is a very driven member of the team and has proven to be an invaluable asset to the Society over the past four decades. We would like to thank him for everything he has done so far for the Society and look forward to receiving his input and ideas in the future."