NEWS

The Walter Smith Way 2011 - Staff Competition 2011 Results

by Walter Smith 05/01/2012

In 2011 the Directors developed 6 new company aims designed to give the business strategic focus and direction over the years ahead:

1. to be a caring and ethical company
2. provide high quality
3. source our meat and fine foods locally
4. offer fair pricing
5. employ knowledgeable, friendly, well training staff
6. give customers THE BEST butcher’s shop experience
7. do all of the above time-after-time
8. be successful

As with all corporate aims they don’t tend to roll off the tongue easily! For this reason such statements often get forgotten even though they are very important and have been carefully arrived at following a detailed process of scrutinising all aspects of the business.

So, the Directors then tried to encapsulate the above in a much simpler, easy to remember statement which they called “the Walter Smith Way”. This vision statement reads as follows:

"The Walter Smith way means:- the right way, is the only way, always."

Having devised the company aims and summarised them into a simple vision statement the next step was to begin the process of communicating these with all staff. The first initiative was to hold a staff competition which was sent to all shops and was open to all staff. The competition involved staff having to read and understand what was meant by “the Walter Smith Way” and complete the wording of 2 sentences.

All those staff that put in an entry (except shop Managers) received a commendation, but the WINNER got £100 in cash, and 3 runners-up were awarded £25 each, well done to all prize winners and thank you to all those that made the effort to enter the competition. See the prize winners below.

	THE WINNER - NAOMI CASSIDY Part-Time Retail Assistant at Coventry During my work, especially when I’m serving our customers, I know I am doing it “the Walter Smith Way” because they are getting quality food and leaving with a smile on their face. If I do things the wrong way I will leave customers unsatisfied and not wanting to return
	RUNNER UP - JAMES GREEN at Harborne During my work, especially when I’m serving, doing butchery or cleaning I know I am doing it “the Walter Smith Way” because I’m always helpful towards customers by providing the best products at a fair price and offering them advice on products sold. If I do things the wrong way I always correct myself and make sure no-one else makes the same mistake, or I ask for help in order to make sure I’m always right and exhibit due diligence in my work.
	RUNNER UP - KEVIN REID Apprentice at the Bull Ring During my work, especially when I’m cutting meat, I know I am doing it “the Walter Smith Way” because I am being trained by the best butchers in the UK. If I do things the wrong way I always apologise and ask what is the right way. Once I’ve been shown I can improve my skills for working at Walter Smith Fine Foods.
	RUNNER UP - AMANDA POSTIN Retail Assistant at Dudley During my work, especially when I’m serving, I know I am doing it “the Walter Smith Way” because satisfied customers both old and new, return happily time and again! If I do things the wrong way customers won’t be happy and I’ll be the one getting the CHOP!