HPP has been gifted with some excellent staff members over the last 35 years. So it's always sad when we lose anyone and in the last couple of months we've said 'enjoy your retirement' to two long-term members of staff who have done more than their fair share of helping grow the business.
Angela Hodgson joined HPP from L'Oreal Cosmetics in November 2004, becoming a much valued and respected member of the sales team. Whether assisting customers on the phone or dealing with them face to face in our trade counter, Angie always had a smile and a vast amount of product knowledge.
Never one to shy away from a challenge, Angie took part in several charity runs over the years, the muckiest being the 2018 Cancer Research 'Pretty Muddy' event at Heaton Park. Despite it being a seriously warm day, the organisers made every attempt for all participants to get as wet and muddy as possible. Angie joined nine of her colleagues - the Hill's Angels - in what was a fun-packed day, raising money for an excellent cause. And in the same spirit, Angie was a regular at most, if not all of the social events that were ever planned, earning her the reputation as quite the HPP party animal!
So after 22 years of handling customer queries, arranging deliveries and guiding customers and new sales staff around our vast range of products, Angie is taking a well-deserved rest and looking forward to spending some quality time with her mum, children and the grandkids.
Angie had a few words at her leaving presentation, saying "my time at HPP has been filled with laughter and unforgettable memories but it's my time to chill out and get some holidays in!"
Our Transport Manager Peter Greenwood joined us after being made redundant from his previous job at VitaFoam in Middleton back in July 2001. HPP was 10 years old at the time and growing rapidly: Martin Hill, one of our founders, approached Peter and asked him to join HPP and get our Transport department off the ground. Having had experience of all things trucking while in his previous job, Peter was the perfect fit into HPP. And for the last 24 years he's managed our drivers, dealt with the huge amounts of paperwork that comes with running a transport department and overseen numerous fleet upgrades in that time.
His HPP journey started off challenging at first, as he was the only one in the department but over the years the Transport team grew along with the business, something that Peter is immensely proud to be part of.
In recent years Peter has become a firm advocate for the Oldham Foodbank, volunteering at the foodbank in 2021 after re-connecting with his old friend, Mick Heap, who was already helping out there. It led to him appealing to HPP staff for numerous donations that went directly to local families in need.
Now he's taking retirement from HPP it'll give Peter more time to help out more with the foodbank, as well as pursue his passion for cruises; in fact he doesn't officially retire until February but there's a cruise ship leaving Singapore in a few days and he's determined to be on it!
We liked to thank both Angie and Peter for their commitment and dedication to HPP over the years, and to wish them a long and happy retirement! All the best from your friends, colleagues, customers and suppliers who you've worked with at HPP!