Aston University Assists West Midlands Business in Attaining Awards Recognition
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.”