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Looking back at 2020

Looking back at 2020

Can you believe this time last year we were heading into the first lockdown, now a year on we’re looking back at what we’ve achieved over the past 12 months. And we certainly deserve to give ourselves, especially the team – a pat on the back!

As an essential service, we’ve kept our doors open throughout, and one thing is for sure; we haven't stopped!

Despite the challenges, we’ve had a year of growth and excitement, here at Slater Safety! Have a read below to find out just what we’ve been up to.

Image of Tracey, Cliff, Nicola, Mitchell and Lauren

Our Marketing, Customer Service, Business Development and Warehouse teams have all seen additions this year. That’s nearly one new starter each month!

Our Customer Service team has tripled with Cliff, Mitchell, and Nicola joining the ranks. Cliff brings with him his wealth of 20 years of knowledge and experience in the construction sector, having spent 17 years at Havwoods Accessories before sadly being made redundant, their loss is certainly our gain. He’s joined by Mitchell and Nicola who are just starting out in their customer service careers. Mitchells’ videography skills and Nicola's keen enthusiasm for speaking to new clients have certainly meant there’s always a friendly knowledgeable voice at the end of the phone.

Tracey has joined our team of Business Development Managers, having worked previously at Arco and Brammer Buck & Hickman, and with 11 years in the Health and Safety sector, she’s always willing to go that extra mile and find the best PPE and workwear for your needs.

Lauren has joined Kate in our marketing department. With 8 years’ design experience, and a wealth of big-name brands under her belt, we’re talking the likes of Coca Cola, ITV and National Trust, we’re excited to see where she takes us. Having worked in agencies, in-house, and having her own freelance clients, both in Leeds and Lancaster, we feel she’s a great fit for our ever-growing team.

We’re so glad to have these guys on board and we can’t wait to keep growing. Welcome to the team guys, the sky really is the limit for Slater Safety.

Helping those in need

As a supplier of all things PPE and work safety wear, we have played a key role in ensuring our health and security workforces have been protected in their fight we’ve supplied millions of nitrile gloves to those who have needed them as well as thousands of pounds of stock and donations to local charities and food banks in the area.

New trade website

As many people were spending longer online, we wanted to ensure our products were available to all. Still, an on-going project to add all our product range to the site, and as websites always are! However, we have our core range ready to be browsed and purchased at the click of a button. If there’s a product you can’t see, we’re always at the end of a phone to see how we can help you.

Shelf of confectionary

We all like a surprise sweet treat, and that’s just what we’ve done, including over 500 edible goodies in your orders, as after all our customers are who have supported us during this tricky time; and it’s our way of saying thank you for sticking by us.

Dedicated driver

We know how important it is that you get your items as quickly as possible, especially when so many are used to 'next day delivery'. Even though we’re a small family business, we’ve invested in extra dedicated drivers to ensure as many orders are dispatched on next-day delivery service. So, if you see James on his route, or he delivers your order, give him a wave!

The warehouse team

Without these guys, we wouldn’t be able to deliver the great service that we do. With Adrian, Kassia, Kate and Megan joining this past year we have doubled the team as well as doubling the workload; we have had A LOT of orders! Not only have they worked tirelessly to get orders picked faster than ever, with accuracy. They have also organized our warehouse in a much more efficient way. Just to add to their ever-expanding workload, we’ve had new sewing machines the ladies have had to get to grips of.

We really would like to say a massive thank you for their hard work, we wouldn’t have got through the orders without them.

Dedicated purchasing co-ordinator We’ve utilized Louise’s skills and expertise by promoting her from our customer services team and making her our purchasing co-ordinator. Alongside working with Kirk, our Head of Procurement on the business strategy, she works tirelessly streaming our internal processes, ensuring our stock levels are kept consistent, and ensuring our suppliers get paid on time.

She’s basically our dedicated person to make us more efficient and accurate with your orders.

Our longest serving member has hung up his hat

After 30 years, our company founder; Don Slater has retired. He can finally take up gardening or go play a game of bowls. We’re quite sure we’ll see him pop into the office from time to time and we’d like to say a massive thanks for leading by example and showing extraordinary commitment to not only the company but also the team.

Thanks Don; now go put your feet up!

Looking back at what we’ve achieved we’re so grateful, not only to our customers for sticking by us, on what can be said a truly unique year, but also to our team. They’re the ones who’ve come to work every day with a smile on their face and a ‘can do’ attitude. We wouldn’t have got through this year without them, and every single one of them has played an important part in what we’ve achieved.

So, thank you.