8th December 2008
Dear Sue
With Christmas and the year-end fast approaching, I thought it appropriate to take time out and write a personal note in order to thank you for your outstanding contribution to the success of the Blue Arrow group over the last 12 months.
Having returned the company to growth and profitability, our 2007 business planning process saw the Board turn its attentions to a number of issues and challenges facing the Group. Several new projects were agreed, primarily focused on improving quality of systems and service delivery to clients and applicants like.
Unfortunately, once we communicated our expectations to the divisional heads, it quickly became apparent that we did not have the skills and resources internally to drive forward these new initiatives and thus began the process to identify external support. I am sure you will be delighted to hear that your name was mentioned from a number of different sources, including ex-colleagues and previous customers, all of whom spoke highly of your knowledge and ability within the recruitment sector. With the benefit of hindsight, I am delighted to see that they were of course proven to be correct!
Whilst I know you have been involved in [and continue to drive forward] a number of key projects, I am particularly delighted with the work you have done to redesign our audit, documentation and candidate registration processes as I believe they fundamentally change the DNA of our delivery mechanisms and allow us to take our managers and consultants into the next phase of their personal development.
Whilst the Board has long had an ambition to see Blue Arrow recognised as an excellent employer it was obvious that we could not even consider an application for accreditation with Best Companies until we had redesigned our core processes and without your leadership and direction we simply could not have achieved our goals this year. Thank you.
Finally, I thought you would also like to know that I have received a number of comments regarding the impact you have made whilst working in the group. Many have commented on your in depth knowledge of the industry and incredible work ethic but the best compliment I can pay you is that all say what a delight it is to work with you, though I am not sure what to make of “cheeky sense of humour”………I know from experience how challenging it can be to manage change within the industry and given the budget restrictions and time pressures I can only congratulate you in not only achieving your goals, but in doing so in an inclusive manner that has generated the overwhelming support of our colleagues.
On behalf of the Board I would like to formally thank you for your hard work and achievements over the last 12 months and whilst I also understand that you are due a number of completion bonuses, I thought it might be nice if I could make a small gesture on behalf of the company as an additional thank you. If you would like to select a restaurant of your choice to take your family out for a meal at our expense, I would be delighted to pick up the bill.
No doubt 2009 will be a challenging year but on a personal note I am looking forward to building on our existing working relationship and would also like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a happy and prosperous new year.
Stuart McBride
Chief Executive Officer
Impellam UK Commercial Staffing and Blue Arrow Group of Companies