The Retail Week Awards 2021 will feature eight new categories to recognise outstanding work of the retail industry during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Retail Week Awards, which have been celebrating excellence in the retail sector for over 25 years, are introducing eight ‘Frontline Hero’ categories for 2021 to celebrate and give thanks to individuals working in retail who have gone above and beyond to help keep the nation going during the pandemic. The eight ‘Frontline Hero’ categories are:
- Store Manager
- Store Colleague
- Store Team
- Distribution Centre Colleague
- Initiative
- Delivery Colleague
- Head Office Colleague
- Head Office Team
These trophies will be presented alongside ten further awards:
- The Responsible Retailer
- The Customer Experience Award
- The Best Place to Work
- Be Inspired Diversity Champion Award
- Best Retailer over £250 million
- Best Retailer under £250 million
- Outstanding Contribution
- Leader of the Year
- The Retail Activist
- Consumer Choice Award
‘Retail is a huge part of how we live in Britain and the coronavirus pandemic has meant we are operating in truly unprecedented circumstances,’ says Retail Week events director Poppie Mickleburgh. ‘Throughout the crisis, we have all witnessed how vital the retail industry is to our daily lives and been thankful for frontline heroes working in this fantastic sector, from store workers through to the leadership team.
‘How the industry has reacted and responded to the pandemic has been a lifesaver for many. It is for this reason that, for 2021, we not only want to recognise the industry as a whole, but also spotlight those people who selflessly continued going to work putting themselves at risk to make all of our lives more bearable at a time when many were at their most vulnerable.’
The Retail Week Awards (which will take place on 25 March, 2021) will be partnering with the retailTRUST. ‘The pandemic has had a profound effect on the UK retail sector,’ says Chris Brook-Carter, retailTRUST CEO. ‘For many people working on the retail frontline, the last five months have been physically and emotionally stressful. Many more are facing an uncertain future marred by mental, emotional and financial instability. The retailTRUST exists to provide a valuable lifeline to everyone working in retail and partnering with the Retail Week Awards will help us to raise valuable funds needed to help us do this.’