- Love Joes completed the University’s Help to Grow and Green Advantage programmes
- The food service company provides make-at-home meals, delivered to customers
- It has won the Medium Employer Award at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Awards.
A food service company which completed two Aston University business programmes has been honoured at the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Awards.
Love Joes is a medium-sized business in the Black Country area. With a commitment to hiring employees with potential and a strong work ethic, they provide opportunities for staff to develop skills through training such as IT, neurodiversity and management.
Recognising the importance of sustainability and supporting the transition to a net zero economy, staff at Love Joes have also enrolled on Aston University’s green skills bootcamp, ‘Green Advantage’, as well as Aston Centre for Growth’s flagship programme, Help to Grow: Management course.
Starting as a family-owned food business, Love Joes transformed its approach to developing its workforce after its management team completed leadership training two years ago.
Workplace learning has transformed the business, with improvements to efficiency, productivity and quality. All staff are encouraged to pursue training during and have the flexibility to meet their learning objectives in a culture of continuous improvement and inclusivity.
Yianno Koumi, head of business information at Love Joes, said:
“We have poured our hearts and souls into creating a positive and nurturing work environment, and it means the world to us to see our efforts acknowledged.
“Love Joes is flourishing as their investment in training delivers benefits to the business, its employees and the local economy.
“We have benefited hugely from the support of Aston University academics and specialists delivering on the programmes and we have sent multiple people from the business onto those programmes afterwards.
“We eagerly anticipate the next steps in this journey and look forward to growing even further.”
Paula Whitehouse, director of Aston Centre for Growth, said:
“The growth of Love Joes as a successful family-run business highlights the power of investing in employee development and leadership training.
“We're proud to support companies like Love Joes that are committed to sustainability and continuous improvement, and it's fantastic to see the positive impact on their business and the local community.
“Seeing Love Joes recognised at the WMCA Awards shows the difference our programmes can make for small businesses.”
- Notes to Editors
About Aston University
For over a century, Aston University’s enduring purpose has been to make our world a better place through education, research and innovation, by enabling our students to succeed in work and life, and by supporting our communities to thrive economically, socially and culturally.
Aston University’s history has been intertwined with the history of Birmingham, a remarkable city that once was the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing powerhouse of the world.
Born out of the First Industrial Revolution, Aston University has a proud and distinct heritage dating back to our formation as the School of Metallurgy in 1875, the first UK College of Technology in 1951, gaining university status by Royal Charter in 1966, and becoming The Guardian University of the Year in 2020.
Building on our outstanding past, we are now defining our place and role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Sam Cook, Press and Communications Manager, on (+44) 7446 910063 or email: s.cook2@aston.ac.uk
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