Travel agents become supermarket workers to help their community

Frome-based travel agents, Mandy Voyle and Lorna Angell, both senior travel consultants at Midcounties Co-operative’s Co-operative Travel Frome, swapped selling holidays for supermarket jobs to support their the local community, during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic. 

 When travel agencies were ordered to close in March, Co-operative Travel offered colleagues who could not be offered a role working from home (in a virtual call centre or administration centre) during lockdown, several options, including furlough or redeployment to another business in the Midcounties Co-operative society, for example the Co-operative Food supermarkets.

Mandy, who lives in Frome, took a role at Co-operative Food Swindon, Wiltshire the nearest branch with availability, and ultimately spent 13 weeks there. Lorna was redeployed to Co-operative Food Sherston in Wiltshire, where she remains today. She will return to Co-operative Travel Frome on 9th November.

Mandy says, “I worked at Co-operative Food in Swindon for 13 weeks, and although I was completely out of my comfort zone at the beginning, the staff and clients were so lovely and welcoming that I was soon at ease. Whilst there, I was an extra pair of hands and did whatever needed doing – stacking shelves, facing up, backstock, tidying, home shopping and standing on the door. I have so much respect for the colleagues there.  It’s a physical job and I was soon exhausted!

“During the last six weeks I did the home shopping most days, Monday – Friday mornings. I spoke to and prepared the home deliveries for vulnerable people. To talk to the over 70s on the phone, people who were at home and relying on us for supplies and a friendly chat, was really rewarding.  I felt as though I was doing something worthwhile. If there were no volunteers for taking the shopping to people that needed it, then I helped deliver the shopping. The home shopping duties were heart-warming.  It was lovely to meet some of the customers and they were so kind and grateful. 

“Now I’m back in the Co-operative Travel store in Frome and reunited with my colleagues. We all have stories to share of how we coped during lockdown. We have all worked hard over the last few months, whatever that role may be, and I feel like I was just doing my bit. I feel lucky that I was offered the option of deployment to Co-operative Food as I would have found furlough difficult. I would rather have kept busy.

“It’s been a tough few months for travel and the road ahead is not clear, but we have loved seeing our customers return to the travel shop and we’re busy planning holidays for old and new faces. I enjoyed my time in food, but my heart will always be with travel.”

 Lorna, from Frome says, “Having worked as a travel agent for 20 years, it’s all I’ve known, so making the switch to Co-operative Food was quite a change!  I was very happy to do it, however, because, as the pandemic gathered pace and lockdown began, I could see how much help was needed, particularly for vulnerable and older people, in the community and that I was well positioned to lend a hand.  

“I never considered taking the furlough option because I thrive when I am busy, and I enjoy taking on new challenges.  As travel agents we love interaction with customers and meeting new people, so my time working at Co-operative Food, whilst hard work, has been really fun.  

“When I return to Co-operative Travel Frome in November, I’ll be very happy to see my colleagues and customers and start booking holidays again but I’m really grateful to have had the experience I have had in Co-operative Food.” 

Natalie Turner, head of branches for Co-operative Travel said, “A very big thank you goes out to Mandy, Lorna and all of our colleagues who have had to take on new challenges during the pandemic. I was so glad to hear that Mandy and Lorna’s experience, dedication and personal customer service skills were appreciated during their time with Co-operative Food. Every colleague is a part of the Midcounties Co-operative family, which is owned by its members, and the pandemic has really seen us pull together as one team.”

Pictured above: Lorna Angell  and Mandy Voyle.