INDUSTRY
T H E M O N T H T H AT W A S
THE MONTH THAT WAS VOW appoints new channel sales director Brother UK adopts hybrid working after HQ redesign
VOW Wholesale has appointed Andrea Eli as UK channel sales director. Andrea previously owned a successful business supplies reseller for 12 years before selling to the EVO group in 2018. “I’m excited that Andrea is joining
Brother UK has adopted a hybrid working model and made a significant
the business,” said Adrian Butler, VOW
investment to redesign its Greater Manchester HQ, which supports
Wholesale’s managing director. “Having
collaborative working and social interaction.
somebody on the VOW senior team that
The transition will see about 90 employees work from the office three days
has owned a successful reseller business
a week, providing them with the flexibility of home working. New break-out
for many years is invaluable in our
spaces and meeting rooms have been built at the firm’s head office as part of the
industry.
redesign, which also includes new technology infrastructure to enable hot desking. The move comes as research by Brother UK signals a wider shift to hybrid
“Andrea already has great relationships with some of the UK dealers,
among businesses, with IT decision-makers expecting only 51% of the workforce
forged over many years of networking
to be in the office full time, on average, over the next six months. “The pandemic
at industry events. As a result, she has a
ripped up the working rulebook and we want to establish a new organisational
unique perspective on the challenges that
design that continues to stay relevant,” said Phil Jones MBE, MD at Brother UK.
we face together as a sector and sees the
“Homeworking has undoubtedly provided our employees with greater flexibility in their personal lives, but the last 18 months has also underlined
many opportunities before us.” Andrea added:“I am looking forward
the office’s value for providing purpose and social cohesion. We want to find a
to joining the team at VOW Wholesale as
balance that works for our people and our business.
channels sales director. I will be looking
“Hybrid working needs to be far more than just a change to working contracts
to build on the work that Kath Briggs
– we want coming to the office to be about human interaction and experiencing
has achieved during her time in the role,
the energy of being around your colleagues. This has been the focal point in
working with resellers and our suppliers to
redesigning our office spaces and it felt great to reopen after months of planning.
capture opportunities at this exciting time
“The building has breathed back to life, with a healthy buzz of collaboration and synchronous working happening before our eyes. Now it’s time to listen and learn from how our colleagues adapt to help us ensure that hybrid working is a success for us.” The company was recently accredited with Investors in People’s ‘We Invest
as we come out of what has been a very difficult period for all.” Adrian also thanked Kath for her commitment and support over the past six years within VOW. “I wish her the
in Wellbeing’ Gold Award in recognition of its efforts to support the physical,
very best in her new role within the EO
psychological and social wellbeing of its staff.
Group,” he said.
[06] OCTOBER 2021
www.dealersupport.co.uk
