Woolworths Redundancy Victims Enjoy Fresh Start at GO Outdoors Stockton-on-Tees

15 North East retail staff who lost their jobs in the recent Woolworths collapse are enjoying a fresh start at the new GO Outdoors store on Portrack Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees.

New GO Outdoors store manager Liz MacDougall and 14 staff all worked at Woolworths stores throughout the North East. And all now have new roles at the new GO Outdoors store which is now open and enjoys an official opening celebration this weekend – on Saturday March 28 ^th .

Liz said,

“ The Woolworths redundancy was a sad day for so many of us who had worked so hard. But less than four months later those days seem a long time ago thanks to our new beginning with GO Outdoors.

“ It made sense to recruit many of the Woolworths team because we all know the retail business inside out. But we’ve also recruited new staff including outdoor enthusiasts. Thanks to their product knowledge, our retail know how and some vibrant company training, we’re already building a fantastic new team.”

GO Outdoors Stockton on Tees becomes the national outdoor retail chain’s thirteenth store and the North East’s first themed 50,000 square feet outdoor superstore featuring a six-metre-high family-friendly climbing wall.

More than 1000 Teessiders applied for just over 30 retail roles at the store including warehouse staff, sales advisors and team leaders. It was the highest number of applications for roles in a new store in the retailer’s history.

Liz continued,

“ The demand for jobs at GO Outdoors has been incredible. We were hoping for a healthy interest in our new store but this has exceeded all our expectations. It’s officially the best recruitment campaign in the company’s history.

“ We’ve opened new stores before and always enjoyed a healthy interest in our company’s career opportunities – but we’ve never had a response like this.

“ And it wasn’t just the number of applicants but the quality too. It’s a shame we’re not opening more stores so we could give them all a job!”

GO Outdoors is now open at Portrack Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees. And the official store opening celebrations take place on Saturday 28th March from 9am. Bouncy castle, fairground ride, face painting, belly dancers and sensational trial bicycle rider demonstrations – all in store!

The Mayor of Stockon-on-Tees will be crowning teenage downhill mountain bike rider Danny Hart as the Teesside Outdoor Adventurer of the year at around midday.

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Teenage Downhill Mountain Bike Champion is new GO Outdoors Teesside Outdoor Adventurer of the Year

All-action down hill mountain bike racer Danny Hart from Redcar will be unveiled as the GO Outdoors Teesside Adventurer of the Year at the opening of the retailer’s new outdoor superstore on Portrack Retail Park in Stockton-on-Tees at 12 midday on Saturday 28th March.

Danny is 17 and currently ranked number one in the country and the Junior National Downhill mountain bike Champion in Britain. Danny is only just back in the country after winning the Maxis cup in Spain before competing in the first round of the world Cup Series in South Africa in less than two weeks time.

Ranked 5th in the world last year, Danny will be one of the favourites for the World Championships in Australia in September after having recently won the the New Zealand South Island Cup in the elite men’s category.

The Mayor of Stockton-on-Tees will be in store at midday on on Saturday March 28th to present to Danny with the Teesside Outdoor Adventurer of the Year Trophy. He will also dedicate the new GO Outdoors store opening to Danny in recognition of his achievements to date.

For GO Outdoors, store manager Liz MacDougall said,

“ Congratulations to Danny on this award. We wanted to choose someone who’s achievements would inspire others throughout Teesside. And Danny certainly fits the bill.

“ When people think of outdoor adventure – they perhaps think of camping and walking. But Danny’s bike riding is a wonderful way to enjoy the outdoors and the breathtaking scenery locally and – in Danny’s case – in exhilarating competitions throughout the world. He’s a great example to others.”

The search for a GO Outdoors Outdoor Adventurer celebrates the opening of the new Stockton on Tees Go Outdoors store on Portrack Retail Park on Ascot Drive.

Last month, the outdoor retailer is appealed to local groups and individuals to nominate inspirational Teessiders who have faced an outdoor challenge – or used outdoor pursuits to benefit the local community.

Danny said,

“ I’m only just back in the country after winning out in Spain. So this award is a wonderful surprise to come back to. I hope the new themed GO Outdoors superstore in Stockton on Tees will encourage young Teessiders to discover more about safe outdoor adventure – and the great experiences it can bring.”

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GO Outdoors Reveals Support For Jaguar Land Rover Apprentices’ Kenyan Adventure

A Coventry retailer has donated outdoor equipment to assist adventurous Jaguar Land Rover apprentices in a Kenyan adventure of a lifetime.

The donation by GO Outdoors on Coventry Business Park, Canley Road, Coventry includes free outdoor gear as part of an order for down jackets and sleeping bag liners.

The Jaguar Land Rover team is made up from more than 30 apprentices from all over the UK taking part in the company’s M.A.D. (Making a Difference) expedition having completed 3-year apprenticeship.

GO Outdoors store manager Scott Wallace said,

“ The Jaguar Land Rover expedition really captured our imagination. It’s a credit to the company that they offer these youngsters the opportunity to learn so much through outdoor adventure. We’re delighted to help and hope they all have an experience which they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

The trip will combine a mixture of physical, community and mechanical awareness challenges. After a three-day trek to the summit of 16,400 feet Mount Kenya, the team will deliver 1000 books to a Kenyan Library. The apprentices will also be meet and live with the local Masai – offering a unique insight into their way of life and their culture.

Whilst in Africa, the expedition members will use their skills to train a group of people from Nairobi how to correctly service five different Land Rovers.  Jaguar Land Rover  is supplying all the parts to service the cars and also donating £1000-worth of tools and equipment to help them on their way in the future.

For Jaguar Land Rover, Colin Griffin said,

“ This trip has been a huge effort by all involved. All the money for the trip has been raised by these apprentices in a huge range of sponsored events like sky dives, three peaks treks and camp outs. That’s why the support of GO Outdoors has been so gratefully received.”

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GO Outdoors Wakefield Hosts First ‘Neckerchief Night’

GO Outdoors on Hostingly Lane, Middlestown near Wakefield is hosting Yorkshire’s first ‘Neckerchief Night’ on Thursday March 26 ^th .

The theme night – exclusively for guides, scouts, brownies, cubs and cadets from H orbury, Wakefield and Huddersfield – means discount card holders in uniform can claim a further 10% off the GO Outdoors discount card price.

The evening wi ll also include camping demonstrations by qualified staff and a raffle for £40 in gift vouchers.

GO Outdoors manager David Addy said,

“ This is a great opportunity for local outdoor organisations to learn more about this year’s latest gear, pick up a few outdoor tips and save a little money in the process.”

Organisations wishing to attend can contact Carol Cockerill on 01924 272 877 for more information.

The store will be open on Thursday 26th Mar ch until 8pm.

ENDS

March 2009

GO0183 Necker Chief Night Thursday 26th MARCH

 

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GO Outdoors Backs Yorkshire Primary School’s Kilimanjaro Challenge

GO Outdoors on Hostingly Lane in Middlestown near Wakefield is backing a local primary school’s bid to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro – in a unique pedometer challenge.

More than 30 children aged between 9 and 11 of Meltham Moor Primary School near Holmfirth have gone high altitude mad after watching celebrities climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for Comic Relief.

From Base Camp Meltham Moor each child in year 5 and 6 now has a pedometer. They have to measure their stride length and choose a mountain to climb – including Kilimanjaro. The children will walk the height of the mountains measured out by their pedometers.

To give the children that extra incentive, the whole event is sponsored by Go Outdoors in Wakefield who will provide prizes for the children who go highest and raise most money for Comic Relief.

Meltham Moor Primary School head teacher Mike Whitfield said,

“ I think everyone who watched the celebrity climb up Mount Kilimanjaro was moved by the discipline required to complete the climb. The children here certainly were. We can’t take a school trip up Kilimanjaro. But this is the next best thing.

“ The GO Outdoors support with their kindly-donated prizes has given everyone something to aim for. And just like the TV programme there’s a real feeling of solidarity amongst the children with everyone encouraging each other to reach their goal.”

The Red Nose Mountain Challenge encourages children to keep fit and safe in the outdoors whilst teaching them important lessons about geography. The most successful pedometer mountain adventurers will receive prizes donated by GO Outdoors.

For GO Outdoors, store manager David Addy said,

“ We’re proud to be supporting this wonderfully-creative way to encourage youngsters to get out and about and enjoy the outdoors. This is the perfect way to help capture the imagination and – who knows – perhaps uncover some real adventurers in the future!”

 

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GO Outdoors To Open in Stockton on Tees Creating More Than 50 New Retail Jobs

GO Outdoors – the UK’s fastest growing outdoor retailer (w ww.gooutdoors.co.uk) – is to build a new store on Portrack Retail Park in Stockton on Tees creating more than 50 jobs. The store is scheduled to open in March with an official opening on Saturday March 28th.

GO Outdoors Stockton on Tees becomes the national outdoor retail chain’s thirteenth store and the North East’s first themed 50,000 square feet outdoor superstore featuring a six-metre-high family-friendly climbing wall.

In a break with traditional outdoor store layouts, customers will enter the new store through a walk through on a hand-made timber path. The themed area will also feature more than 4.5 tonnes of lime stone fashioned into a hand-built dry-stone wall.  

The theming will continue with wooden rustic gate and stile and more than 1500 square metres of synthetic turf for the complete the ‘outdoors inside’ experience.

The centre piece family-friendly six metre high indoor climbing wall will allow customers to experience indoor rock climbing, before putting new footwear to the test on a range of different walking surfaces.

John Graham, GO Outdoors managing director, said,

“ We have big plans for GO Outdoors.  And our new store in Stockton is an important part of those plans. We are transforming the UK outdoor retail experience by opening the UK’s biggest outdoor retail destinations. Whatever our customers need, we have thousands of products at guaranteed best prices perfect for everything from walking the dog to conquering K2; from camping in the lakes to cycling to work; from riding down mountain paths to going on a safari; and, from climbing the Three Peaks to fishing in Scotland.”

The new Stockton on Tees store announcement follows on from the outdoor retailer’s January announcement that it intends to create 1000 new retail jobs. By June 2009, GO Outdoors will have opened a total of five new stores since the £18 million refinancing package set up with Bank of Scotland Corporate in Spring 2008. And the planned expansion targets a company total of 30 stores by 2011.

Sheffield-based GO Outdoors will invest a total of £5 million in Stockton and two other stores in Pudsey and the South East creating more than 150 new jobs in the process.  The outdoor retailer’s new expansion plans follow on from another two new successful store openings in the past three months in Wolverhampton and Bristol creating a further 80 new jobs.

GO Outdoors is now on target to operate 14 stores by the end of June – each store selling more than 20,000 big-brand price-guaranteed outdoor products.

Ends

February 2009

GO0163 STOCKTON ON TEES OPENING

 

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