Rain doesn’t stop Chelsea play

Chelsea Building Society staff have shown amazing determination over the last few days and have refused to let the unprecedented conditions in Gloucestershire dampen their spirits.

Staff from both the High Street branch and head office sites in Cheltenham would not let rain or water shortages prevent them from maintaining business as usual and customers have continued to receive a high level of customer service, business as usual opening hours and full operational services.

Staff are being kept regularly supplied with bottles of water and on top of their day job, senior managers are multi tasking as waiters delivering snacks of fruit, drink, crisps and chocolate bars to staff at their desks.

Richard Hornbrook Chief Executive and Director at Chelsea said “It’s clear that no one anticipated the scale of this problem, which has led to such a devastating affect on the county. But in many ways it’s been a remarkable week. Remarkable for the way everyone has pulled together and for their resilience to keep going.

The number of people who have emerged as real heroes has really impressed me, especially when they’re experiencing real hardship at home. I just think it’s amazing how quickly people can rally round in a crisis.

I’m grateful to everyone who has played their part at Chelsea. This week, more than ever, has made me hugely proud to be running this organisation and living in Gloucestershire.

It’s not only been our staff that have made a difference. Our suppliers, the emergency services and the local media have all been heroes too.”

Some of the 700 staff based at the head offices live outside of the county and are not affected by the water situation. They have been rallying around to do what they can for colleagues, filling water containers at home and even washing clothes for them. Chelsea also teamed up with Cotswold Conference Centre near Broadway, Worcestershire to book rooms over the coming days so that staff and their immediate family can use the shower facilities.

As an extra thank you for staff, Chelsea has also arranged for a BBQ lunch at their head office. The caterer, who was initially booked for the Cheltenham cricket festival found himself unexpectedly free for the day when the festival was cancelled and so used his culinary skills BBQ’ing lunch for Chelsea staff.

“Chelsea is helping to make an unbearable situation more bearable” said Paul Moffatt, a Chelsea member of staff. “Knowing that my family and I can have a shower is such a relief and to see senior management delivering snacks and drinks to everyone shows that at a time like this it’s all hands to the deck.”