The Retail Trust has appointed three new trustees as it increases support for retail workers in the run-up to Christmas. Nathan Peacey, Vivienne King and Richard Hulme will join the charity’s board of trustees at the same time as it launches more help for staff facing abuse and money worries and rolls out new support to protect thousands of workers at Landsec’s 17 shopping destinations against abuse.
New trustees and campaign backing
Hundreds of businesses will also back the Retail Trust’s Let’s Respect Retail campaign this Christmas by increasing employee support and calling for more respect from shoppers, including M&S, which has announced it is getting behind the campaign this year.
Landsec’s managing director for retail Bruce Findlay, Holland & Barrett’s CEO Anthony Houghton, and New Look’s former executive chairman Alistair McGeorge are among other retail and property leaders on the Retail Trust’s board of trustees. Sainsbury’s chief retail, logistics and supply chain officer Tracey Clements, and Amazon’s director for EU Fresh Matt Birch, were appointed earlier this year.
Trustees’ backgrounds
Richard Hulme established and led Savills Bristol property management team from 2006 to 2015 before taking on roles as head of London retail management and UK head of retail and leisure management. He is also involved with the Retail Property Association to support greater collaboration across the commercial property sector.
Vivienne King has held real estate leadership roles for over 30 years, including as general counsel at the Crown Estate, and as chief executive of Soho Housing Association and Revo, the trade association for the built retail and leisure environment, where she also served as chair. She is currently a board member for Revo and the Churches Conservation Trust and chairs the Shopkeepers Campaign for business rates reform for retail.
Nathan Peacey leads national law firm Foot Anstey’s retail and consumer sector and has been a long-term supporter of the Let’s Respect Retail campaign. He also created the Retailers Against Harassment Certification with the Retail Trust to help retailers protect their employees from harassment and support them when they encounter it.
Reactions and future plans
Richard Hulme said: “The Retail Trust provides important support and guidance across the retail industry. I am thrilled to be joining them as a trustee and very much looking forward to helping to drive their initiatives forward.”
Vivienne King said: “The Retail Trust is filling a market gap with the vital professional, targeted services it provides to people on the front line in retail, and at the same time offering a dignified retirement in beautiful environments at affordable rents for those previously on the front line. My career spanning retail real estate, affordable housing and impact management makes the Trust’s work very real for me and enables me to apply a blend of experience to the important role it performs so well.”
Nathan Peacey said: “Retail is powered by its people, and that’s why I’m so excited to join the Retail Trust. The organisation is not only providing crucial support to retail workers but is also helping drive a more positive and informed view of the sector among businesses, policymakers and society more broadly. Joining the board gives me the chance to play a small part in creating lasting improvements in the lives and experiences of retail colleagues.”
Chris Brook-Carter, chief executive of the Retail Trust, said: “We are strengthening our board of trustees at a pivotal moment for retail, with a renewed government focus on regenerating high streets and tackling retail crime and with worker wellbeing expected to come under increasing strain this Christmas. Richard, Vivienne and Nathan bring a huge amount of experience from across the retail and property sectors that will help us to bolster our support for the entire workforce and bring even more of the industry together to respond to the pressures threatening their wellbeing.”
