When the news was announced that local supermarket Shoprite was being sold to Tesco, there was concern throughout the Island as to what this meant for the local economy, according to the Northern Chamber of Commerce.
But for local employers, AFD Software Limited, based at Mountain View Innovation Centre just outside Ramsey this also posed another challenge – one which would directly affect their 40+ employees.
Since arriving in Ramsey in 1997, AFD Software – The Postcode People, have operated a staff incentive scheme which has seen their employees enjoy the benefit of grocery vouchers alongside their salaries each month in the form of Shoprite vouchers.
Vouchers
With the withdrawal of Shoprite and therefore their vouchers, David Dorricott, AFD Group managing director, explains what this meant for them as employers and consequently their employees:
“Our staff are our most important asset and so when we heard the news, we were left in a quandary as to how we could continue to provide our staff with this extra benefit but also keep the money on the Island and specifically benefit the local community in which we live and work.
David Dorricott, AFD Group managing director
“With this in mind, we approached the Northern Chamber of Commerce to explore possibilities of creating a replacement scheme.”
The Northern Chamber of Commerce exists primarily to support its members, made up of local businesses, and to work for the North of the Island.
When the opportunity to launch the scheme, especially with a guaranteed baseload investment from AFD, was presented to them, Keith Dalrymple, Chairman of the Northern Chamber of Commerce thought it was too good an opportunity to pass up and the members agreed.
“It is most encouraging to develop cooperative links with AFD Software Ltd, a successful local enterprise with a proven track record of contributing to benefit communities.
“Following circulation of the initial call for expressions of interest 19 businesses immediately signed up with more joining since. We hope that after trialling the voucher scheme we will be able to extend it more widely and capitalise on keeping the local pound in the local economy,” Dalrymple said.
Northern business
Local business owner Nat Hutchesson from the hutch based at parliament Square commented:
“It’s no secret that it’s been a tough few years for retailers especially with online shopping and COVID and so it’s really heartening to see stakeholders in the community looking at how they can feed back into the local economy and really support us small businesses!
“We are excited to see how the scheme progresses.”
AFD employees will receive the vouchers each month and will be able to check via a QR code which businesses are participating in the scheme at any given time.
The scheme launches on January 31. Businesses not currently enrolled as a member of the Northern Chamber of Commerce can join by emailing secretary@ncoc.im
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