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NICE ‘N’ NAUGHTY STAFF ARE FLYING HIGH AFTER DEGREE SUCCESS
ADULT retailer Nice ‘n’ Naughty
is bringing a whole new meaning to ‘Sex Education’ after 4
members of staff achieved university degrees – including Southport
store worker Richard Tandy - which further illustrates the changing
face of the UK’s licensed sex shop industry. To mark his
achievement he is being sent on a free 2-week holiday to Egypt,
courtesy of kind-hearted boss Simon Prescott!
Richard graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a 2nd
class (2:2) foundation degree in Interactive Media Study and a 3rd
class (2:3) Bachelors Degree (with honours, in Art) in Interactive
Media Creation. Richard has worked at the Nice ‘n’ Naughty store in
London Street for the last 5 years and joins 3 other colleagues from
other branches who are also celebrating similar university
achievements.
As reward for their success Store
Director Simon is planning a special celebratory dinner with
commemorative gifts and is also sending them on a memorable holiday.
“I am really proud of all of them and want to recognise their
dedication and commitment. We have tried to support them from day
one and now they have completed their studies I want them to
celebrate in style.” Simon continued:- “Nice ‘n’
Naughty also provided financial help when necessary to cover the
cost of books and other learning materials as not all of them
qualified for grants or student loans. On occasions some found
juggling the costs of living with increasing fuel, energy and food
costs difficult to balance whilst being a part time student.”
Simon highlighted that adult retail staff are not what people
necessarily perceive them to be. “They are highly intelligent,
dedicated professionals who can combine productive careers whilst
studying to achieve some of the highest qualifications available. I
suppose you could say this brings a whole new meaning to sex
education!”
Nice ‘n’ Naughty has over the past 9 years become the fastest
growing adult chain in the UK with 11 stores across England and
Wales. They have changed the image of adult shops, creating a
professional retail outlet that is no different to any other high
street store. As market leaders, Nice ‘n’ Naughty were the first
adult retailer to receive recognition for their highly professional
business culture of continued staff development & training,
achieving ‘Investors In People’ status back in February 2005,
successfully retained their status at their recent re-assessment
earlier this year, and have also retained the prestigious ETO
Retailer of the Year award for 3 consecutive years, the industry
equivalent of the Oscars. The company also operates a popular
on-line shop at
www.nicennaughty.co.uk.
Simon pointed out:- “Our staff get good wages, conditions,
health benefits and even gym membership, so it’s easy for us to
attract high calibre workers. Hopefully our business philosophy and
continued awards success will help break down barriers and change
people’s perceptions of sex shops as seedy back street premises with
boarded up windows. Our shops are nothing like that. They are
clean, professionally-run, fun environments. We want to create
relaxing atmospheres in which couples and ladies especially feel
comfortable.” He added:- “We want to send out
the message that sex isn’t shameful, we are playing a vital role in
helping people sustain healthy marriages and relationships. I would
like to extend sincere congratulations to all my staff on their
university successes.”
Delighted student Richard cannot believe the generosity of his boss
and admitted:- “It’s always been great fun working for Simon
and his team but sending us to Egypt is just amazing. Throughout my
studying I received tremendous support from the company, especially
my branch manager who was always very flexible with working hours
and recognised the difficulties involved of combining work with
study. All the hard work has paid off now, thanks in part to a very
understanding employer.” |
LIVERPOOL SNAPSHOT
A collection of 64 portraits that
capture the fabric of Liverpool and its people has been published.
‘People in Liverpool’ is the 1st book released by renowned
portrait artist Stephanie de Leng and with only 1000 copies
published, the limited edition book is a spectacle befitting
Liverpool’s status as Capital of Culture.
The book features a host of well-known Liverpool celebrities as well
as people from across the city. Subjects range from Willy Russell,
Terrence Davies and Sir Drummond Bone to a roofer, a police
constable and the Mattas lined up outside their shop on Bold Street.
A former fashion model, the American-born de Leng moved to Liverpool
in 1989, and while raising a family, dedicated her spare time to
capturing the spirit of her adopted city. It is a personal view
captured through her lens and intended as the first part of a
progressive body of work.
Stephanie de Leng commentated:- “This book is intended to portray a
'Slice
of Life of the Pool'. It is a broad cross-section of the varied
characters that make Liverpool such an individualistic city - one
that is also rich in culture and history. The images focus on
what is revealed rather than what is concealed. In an age when we
are bombarded with flawless images of youthful beauty and when
rejuvenation is available through a scalpel I have avoided to
manipulate the subjects by re-touching.”
For further information about Stephanie De Leng and her work visit
www.stephaniedeleng.co.uk. ‘People in
Liverpool’ is available from Utility, News From Nowhere, Dot
Art, Fact, The Liverpool Academy of Arts, Pritchards and also
directly from Stephanie’s website.
TV star Debra
Stephenson throws Home-Start a lifeline
HOME-START Knowsley will benefit
from a BBC Lifeline appeal to be presented by Coronation Street and
Bad girls star, Debra Stephenson on the 20th July on BBC1.
Home-Start Knowsley is one of a network of 340 local Home-Starts who
will be sharing the proceeds of the appeal. Home-Start Knowsley has
supported 157 families in the last year alone. Gillian McKinnon
scheme manager for Home Start Knowsley, says “It’s great to
get national recognition for our work and the money raised will be
greatly appreciated as we are always looking for extra funds.”
Donations are always welcome and there are a number of ways to do
this, using our website is just one, secure method
homestartknowsley.org.uk.
Lifeline is the BBC's monthly television charity appeal programme. For more than twenty years, Lifeline has helped raised money for and
increased the profile of hundreds of charities across the UK and
abroad. There have been over 250 appeals so far and almost £6m has
been raised for charities.
Debra spent time talking to some of the families supported by
Home-Start, she also went to the home of a father, who is bringing
up his 6 children on his own after losing his wife last year, to see
how his volunteer supports him at home.
Home-Start’s Lifeline appeal featured three families all accessing
support for different reasons. Since the death of his wife, Billy
has also been attending a Home-Start family support group and says
without it, he would have sat at home feeling sorry for himself. Lynn, another parent supported by Home-Start, lost her sight when
she was seventeen. With 2 small children to look after, Lynn says
that having a Home-Start volunteer has given her the independence to
do all of the activities she could do herself if she didn’t have a
sight problem. 2 years ago Julie gave birth to identical quads. Raising four children can take its toll, Julie says that having 4
children can be quite isolating as she can’t do things that other
parents take for granted. Having a Home-Start volunteer means that
Julie can get out to the shops and the park with her children. Home
Start Knowsley needs more volunteers, please contact the Scheme on
0151 4803910 if you think you could spare some time to help a
worthwhile cause.
Debra says:- “Being a parent of 2 small children myself, I
know how difficult it can sometimes be. Lots of parents struggle to
cope, for many reasons and that’s where Home-Start steps in. It’s a
great idea that is so effective, parents supporting other parents in
their own homes. I’m really pleased to be presenting a Lifeline
appeal for such a worthwhile charity.”
Home-Start is the UK’s leading family support charity, recruiting
and training volunteers to support parents with at least 1 child
under the age of 5. Our home visiting work is unique in the UK.
Home-Start supports nearly 35,000 families and over 71,000 children
each year. Almost 16,000 volunteers visit families in their own
homes – parents supporting other parents in a variety of situations
including isolation, bereavement, multiple births, illness or
disability. |
