Total pioneers ‘smoother business' scheme in Wales
Trading Places, the initiative aimed at helping local authorities and business work together more smoothly, is to be launched in Wales.
Run by LBRO, Trading Places gives local authority regulators, such as trading standards, licensing and environmental health officers, the chance to step into the shoes of their business counterparts.
Total, the service station operator, will pioneer the scheme with a series of Trading Places visits for Welsh local authority regulators. LBRO Chairman Clive Grace said: "We're glad that Total is taking the lead with this initiative in Wales. Businesses place a great deal of value on the professionalism and expertise of regulatory officers who are the visible face of local authorities in the business community.
"They should look on their local authority regulators as a source of help and advice. Honest businesses welcome good straightforward regulatory systems because they allow them to set themselves apart from that tiny number of operators who have no regard for safety, consumer protection or the environment."
The programme will start with a group session on February 22nd, which will be an introduction to Total, with presentations and discussions with Total staff - Nerys Mai-Jones the Total UK Licensing Manager, Stella Havard, Territory Manager for Company Operated Stores in Wales and an opportunity to meet a newly qualified deputy manager.
The group session will be followed by an opportunity for store visits and practical shop floor activities, taking place over the following weeks across South Wales and South West England.
Nerys Mai-Jones, Total UK's Licensing Manager, said: "TOTAL UK are delighted to be involved once again with LBRO. This Welsh initiative is an opportunity for us to share our compliance methodology with the regulators, so that those who regulate have an insight into the challenges that businesses face on a daily basis. It is essential for consumer safety and protection, and the environment, that the two sides work together in partnership."
Trading Places is endorsed by business organisations including the CBI, British Chambers of Commerce, British Retail Consortium; the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and the Trading Standards Institute. For information email jenny.nobes@lbro.org.uk or call Jenny Nobes on 0121 226 4045.