Selco News

A Watford disability charity will launch a farm-to-fork project – with the help of Selco.

Watford Mencap has won £500 worth of materials through the Community Heroes campaign.

The charity supports more than 600 local people with learning disabilities each year.

The Community Heroes funding will allow Watford Mencap to create an allotment where members can learn horticultural skills while growing produce to be cooked in its training kitchen.

And it could get better yet for the charity which will go forward to a public vote final later in the year with £5,000 up for grabs for the winner.

Michelle Hamilton, fundraising manager at Watford Mencap, said: “We were thrilled to hear we had been selected as a Community Heroes winner.

“We provide a multitude of services including registered care homes, children’s services, leisure and learning opportunities, as well as free information and advice.

“These building materials will help us to create an exciting allotment area where people can learn new skills while enjoying friendship and exercise.

“They will then cook as a group before eating a meal together.

“These are difficult times for charities so it’s brilliant to see Selco getting involved with groups across the country.”

Selco, which has a branch in Watford on Imperial Way, is awarding two £500 building materials prizes each month throughout the six-month Community Heroes campaign.

All 12 winners will be entered into the final public vote for the £5,000 cash jackpot or the £1,000 runner-up prize.

The scheme is open to any charity or group which is at the heart of its local community and entry can be made by explaining in no more than 100 words how they would use the building materials or money to benefit them.

Entries can be made online.

Carine Jessamine, Selco marketing director, said: “We’re delighted to support Watford Mencap and the fantastic work they do in South West Hertfordshire.

“We have had an incredible number of entries to Community Heroes and it has been a very difficult task picking the winners so far. There are so many amazing causes across the country but Watford Mencap really stood out and we can’t wait to see the new allotment area.”

Other Community Heroes winners so far this year include Bury Veterans Hub and St John Ambulance Cymru.

A scout group will encourage green-fingered Warrington residents to embrace nature by creating a community garden – with the backing of Selco.

13th Warrington East Scout Group has won £500 worth of building materials through the Community Heroes campaign.

The thriving scout group will use the gift to build a community garden close to its Fairfield Community Centre base, including a growing area and a wildlife pond.

13th Warrington East Scout Group will also be a competition finalist later in the year, going head-to-head with the 11 other Community Heroes winners in a public vote to bag £5,000 in cash.

Sarah O'Neill, a leader at the group, said: “We’re over the moon to win this fantastic prize from Selco.

“We’ve been planning a community garden for some time and these materials will allow us to start the project.

“It will be a tremendous asset for the local community, giving them the chance to grow fruit and vegetables. There will also be a wildlife pond which will encourage nature to thrive and will be a hotbed for honeybees.

“We are located in one of the poorest areas of Warrington so funds are extremely limited. Having the backing of Selco is a very welcome boost.”

Selco, which has a branch in Warrington on Milner Street, is awarding 12 prizes of £500 worth of building materials throughout the six-month Community Heroes campaign.

At the end of the process, the dozen winners will go into a public vote grand finale to win the £5,000 cash top prize, or £1,000 as the runner-up.

The scheme is open to any charity or group which is at the heart of its local community and entry can be made by explaining in no more than 100 words how they would use the building materials or money to benefit them.

Entries can be made online.

Carine Jessamine, Selco marketing director, said: “Community Heroes is all about helping good causes across the country as they embark on exciting new projects – and that is certainly the case here. We are delighted to be able to help.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the scout group into our Warrington branch and helping them select all the materials they need to make this community garden a reality.”

Other Community Heroes winners so far this year include Bury Veterans Hub, St John Ambulance Cymru and Watford Mencap.

A pre-Christmas jobs boost is on the way to Cheltenham with the opening of a new Selco branch in the town.

We will create at least 30 new jobs when we open our new branch on Festival Park in Runnings Road at the end of November.

It will be our 74th branch in the UK and recruitment will cover a wide variety of positions, with virtually all the jobs expected to be given to people from the local area.

The opening will strengthen our presence in the south-west of England, with two branches already in Bristol and one in Exeter which opened earlier in the year.

Howard Luft, chief executive of Selco, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the unique Selco offering to Cheltenham, offering tradespeople and businesses the perfect one-stop-shop for all their building materials and products.

“Our recruitment policy has always been to employ people from the branch’s local community and that is continuing here.

“We want to give the people of Cheltenham genuine career opportunities and the chance to climb through the ranks at Selco.

“The branch will also provide a further boost to tradespeople in the area as they will have the chance to enjoy the benefits Selco provides – unrivalled availability, with the widest range of products in stock, as well as excellent customer service and trade pricing.”

Further details on the job vacancies can be found online.

We have already demonstrated our commitment to the local community by becoming an official partner of Cheltenham Town Football Club for the 2022-23 season.

As part of our sponsorship of Salford Red Devils rugby league team, fans will have the chance to enjoy a pre-play-offs meet and greet on Tuesday with three of the squad members chasing Super League glory.

Shane Wright, Tim Lafai and Amir Bourouh will appear at our Salford branch on North Phoebe Street off Regent Road (M5 4AE).

The trio will be on hand to speak to fans, as well as signing autographs and posing for pictures ahead of the start of Salford’s play-off campaign the following weekend.

The event will be staged between 5pm and 6pm and is free for fans to attend.

Simon Lee, branch manager at Selco Salford, said: “We can’t wait to have the three Salford players in branch and we look forward to welcoming along fans who will be excited about the play-off campaign.

“It’s been a special season for the club getting to the play-offs and hopefully there is more excitement still to come.

“The success has really captured the imagination of customers and colleagues alike and it’s been a real thrill for everyone at Selco Salford to be the main club partner.”

As part of our three-year deal, we are the front of shirt sponsor and also receive advertising benefits and tickets for customers and colleagues.

In another notable step on our journey to zero emissions, we are delighted to have added an electric commercial dropside van to our fleet for the first time.

The vehicle, supplied by Guest Truck & Van, is operating from our Birmingham Delivery Hub for a trial period.

It has a payload in excess of 1,300kgs and a range of up to 145 miles.

Richard Evans, Head of Transport Operations at Selco, said: “This is an extremely important development in our ongoing transition towards operating a fully sustainable commercial fleet.

“Dropside vans make up a large percentage of our fleet so this trial will be crucial to seeking vital information on the suitability of commercial electric vehicles and help determine our route to zero emissions.

“We have been clear about our commitments around sustainability and we are now making swift and sizeable progress in terms of reducing our carbon footprint within the transport fleet.”

A dozen electrically powered counterbalance forklift trucks now feature across our 73-strong branch network while there are seven Compressed Natural Gas vehicles currently in operation, with three to add later this year.

Alternative, cleaner fuels have become an increasing part of our fleet with all vehicles at our two Delivery Hubs in Birmingham and Edmonton now operating on either Compressed Natural Gas or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil fuel.

In addition, we have also directly supported the planting of more than 260,000 trees across two sites in Scotland and Wales as part of our carbon-offsetting programme, with plans for a third ‘Selco Forest’ to be planted in early 2023.

Firefighters in Croydon will be able to relax and reflect in a new wellbeing garden – thanks to Selco.

Our South Croydon branch has donated more than £750 worth of building materials so firefighters can build the garden at Croydon Fire Station.

The new-look garden will include benches, plants and eating areas to support the mental health of staff who have to deal with traumatic incidents. Research by Mind found that 87 per cent of emergency services staff and volunteers have experienced stress and poor mental health during their work.

Oliver Young, leading firefighter on Croydon Green Watch, said: “We’re so grateful to Selco for their backing and allowing us to create this valuable space for our colleagues.

“The South Croydon branch has been fantastic in helping us with these materials.

“We have 80 firefighters working here across four watches and we are also a technical rescue station, so we do tend to deal with larger incidents.

“This garden will give our firefighters a tranquil place to use to take time away from the challenges they face in their jobs.

“The main work we will be carrying out is converting the current pergola area with screening and benches so it doesn’t feel as if you are sitting in a car park.

“Everyone is really looking forward to the garden’s completion.”

Selco South Croydon, on Imperial Way in Purley, donated decking boards, timber and screws towards the project.

Laura Hunter, deputy branch manager at Selco South Croydon, said: “It’s a privilege to be able to make this donation and help the firefighters at Croydon Fire Station.

“The job that these men and women do – and more so this year than ever before in soaring temperatures – is incredible.

“You can only imagine some of the traumatic incidents that they deal with in their roles. Hopefully this new outdoor space will allow them a chance to reflect and unwind.”

A Bury veterans charity is buzzing with excitement after winning building materials to help develop its beekeeping area.

Bury Veterans Hub has won £500 worth of materials from Selco through the recently launched Community Heroes campaign, and it could get better still for the charity which will go forward to a public vote final later in the year with £5,000 up for grabs for the winner.

Bury Veterans Hub helps veterans with PTSD, debt, addictions, isolation, budgeting and housing. The charity is creating a beehive and training some of its members as beekeepers.

Shirley Simmons, founder of Bury Veterans Hub, said: “We’re thrilled to win these materials from Selco, it’s a tremendous boost. We use different therapy projects to help our members focus on things they are interested in and enjoy.

“We are developing an apiary which we hope will encourage some of our members out of isolation, which is a very common problem in veterans once they leave service.

“Once the apiary is complete, which we’ll be able to do with these materials from Selco, we will purchase two queens to develop their own colonies.”

Shirley said the charity plans to sell its own honey as well as providing informative talks about bees for the wider community. There are also plans to create a wildflower area and a wildlife pond.

“Once complete, we will then raise awareness of the community garden within the local residents and organise barbecues to decrease isolation amongst the wider population,” said Shirley.

Community Heroes will award two £500 prizes each month throughout the six-month campaign. All 12 winners will be entered into the final public vote for the £5,000 jackpot, or the £1,000 runner-up prize.

The scheme is open to any charity or group which is at the heart of its local community and entry can be made by explaining in no more than 100 words how they would use the building materials or money to benefit them.

Entries can be made online.

Carine Jessamine, Selco marketing director, said: “We’re delighted to support Bury Veterans Hub as one of our first winners of this year’s Community Heroes contest.

“They do tremendous work with veterans in the area and help them make the difficult step back into civilian life after serving our country.

“So many organisations do sterling work in their communities and we look forward to supporting many more through Community Heroes in the months to come.”

The first two overall winners of the competition, previously called Selco Stars, have been Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice and Helping Homeless Veterans.

A group which provides life-saving first aid at events throughout Wales has won building materials from Selco to help modernise its facilities.

St John Ambulance Cymru has won £500 worth of materials through our newly-launched Community Heroes campaign.

And it could get better yet for the charity, which will go forward to a public vote final later in the year with £5,000 up for grabs for the winner.

St John Ambulance Cymru has over 1,500 active volunteers across Wales who give hundreds of hours every week to support local events, ensuring there is first aid for all.

James Cordell, Support Manager at St John Ambulance Cymru, said: “We’re delighted to win these building materials through Community Heroes.

“Our committed volunteers are on the frontline throughout Wales, working with the NHS, Welsh Ambulance other partner agencies.

“Not only that, but we are also training local groups, schools and businesses in life-saving first aid.

“Winning Selco Community Heroes will help us modernise our facilities for our volunteers and the public at our training centres.”

Selco is awarding two £500 prizes each month throughout the six-month Community Heroes campaign.

All 12 winners will be entered into the final public vote for the £5,000 jackpot, or the £1,000 runner-up prize.

The scheme is open to any charity or group which is at the heart of its local community and entry can be made by explaining in no more than 100 words how they would use the building materials or money to benefit them.

Entries can be made online.

Carine Jessamine, Selco Marketing Director, said: “We’re delighted to support St John Ambulance Cymru as one of our first winners of this year’s Community Heroes contest.

"St John Ambulance Cymru is so important in providing first aid at so many events across the country. It’s a really valuable service.

“So many organisations do sterling work in their communities and we look forward to supporting many more through Community Heroes in the months to come.”

The first two overall winners of the competition, previously called Selco Stars, have been Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice and Helping Homeless Veterans.

We are thrilled to be backing one of Manchester’s largest non-league football clubs.

Wythenshawe Amateurs, which has 60 teams playing at junior and senior level and across men’s and women’s football, will be backed by Selco for the 2022-23 campaign.

The club’s home ground will be re-named the Selco Builders Warehouse Community Stadium for the new season.

Our Baguley branch is directly supporting the Amateurs and will provide materials to support the club’s 3G pitch facility used by the junior teams.

Carl Barratt, chairman of Wythenshawe Amateurs, said: “We are thrilled to have Selco, a major national company with a branch in the immediate vicinity of the club, as a significant partner.

“We are a club looking to build for the future and with ambitious plans to continue to grow and the support of a company such as Selco plays a massive part in helping us achieve those aims.

“It’s a real boost for everyone involved in the club as we prepare for a hectic new season.”

The Amateurs men’s first team currently ply their trade in the North West Counties Division One South while the women’s team are preparing for a new campaign in the North West Women’s Premier League.

Dave Rawlinson, manager of Selco Baguley, said: “We are delighted to be supporting Wythenshawe Amateurs which is such a huge part of the local community.

“Having 60 teams is incredible and many of our colleagues and customers have a connection with the club so it’s a perfect fit for us.”

Selco has partnered with Peterborough United for the new 2022-2023 Sky Bet League One campaign.

The deal includes sponsorship of a soon to be launched Goal of the Month competition, which will include goals from the first team, under 21s, under 18s and women’s side, as well as featured messaging on goal announcements at the Weston Homes Stadium.

Selco is preparing to open a new branch in Peterborough early in 2023.

Carine Jessamine, marketing director at Selco, said: “We’re delighted to be an official club partner of Peterborough United for the new season. The Posh are a great club with a strong fanbase. We’ll be right behind them as they look for an immediate return to the Championship.

“We’re looking forward to opening our new Peterborough branch and it’s great to already be playing a key role in the local community.”

Alex Harris at Peterborough United, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Selco to the Peterborough United family. We are looking forward to working with them and I am sure the Peterborough public are excited about the new branch opening later this year.”