Sainsbury’s Colleagues Awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020

Sainsbury’s Colleagues Awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in Her Majesty the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020

10 October 2020

Four Sainsbury’s colleagues have been recognised for going above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic by being awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020, recognising their outstanding commitment during these unprecedented times. 

Trish Gurney from the Sainsbury’s store in Beaconsfield lived a double-life during the pandemic. By day she was a customer service assistant and by night she worked as a nurse at her local hospital’s cancer ward. A local hero, Trish is recognised for her diligence and determination to care for both her customers and her patients. At the start of the pandemic she was called upon to support the local hospital and despite her store offering her time off to work on the cancer ward, she declined because she was committed to both roles.

Trish Gurney said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been awarded a BEM and I am really humbled by this recognition. I am proud that I was able to help so many people throughout pandemic and I would like to thank all of my colleagues at Sainsbury’s for their continued support.”   

Rani Kaur has been working at the Sainsbury’s Fairfield Park supermarket for over 15 years and is a pillar of the local community. During the pandemic she has embodied the Sainsbury’s commitment to help feed the nation. She delivered food to shielding customers outside her working hours, fundraised for masks, which she donated to her local hospital and provided 200 meals per day for ambulance staff who were working around the clock to provide essential care.

 

 

 

  

Eugenia Lyle who is based at the Strand Road supermarket in Northern Ireland, has been a source of comfort for colleagues and customers alike during the pandemic. In particular, she has fundraised for the local hospital, supported customers who have lost loved ones to coronavirus and turned some unused storage space in the canteen into a quiet sanctuary for colleagues to use during their breaks.

Eugenia Lyle said: “I am delighted to have been recognised as deserving a BEM. What a marvellous surprise. It has been a great honour to have worked at Sainsbury’s for the last 20 years and I am really grateful to all of the customers and colleagues who have made my time so enjoyable.”

 

  

Andrew Dunsmore joined the Sainsbury’s Wickham High Street team at the beginning of the pandemic and recently left to return to his photography business. He was known for his never-ending positivity and continuous support of Sainsbury’s colleagues and customers. Andrew donated all his earnings from his work at Sainsbury’s to the Lilypad Trust Appeal which is currently raising funds to build a new and modernised Oncology Unit at Croydon University Hospital.

 

Simon Roberts, Chief Executive Officer of Sainsbury’s said: “Trish, Rani, Eugenia and Andrew are amazing examples of colleagues who have gone above and beyond for our customers, colleagues and local communities over the past few months.

There are so many examples where our colleagues have done outstanding work, giving so much of their time to help others and I am so proud that this work has been recognised by Her Majesty the Queen.

These awards symbolise the care and passion shown by colleagues right across Sainsbury’s, both on the front line and behind the scenes, as everyone has worked with such commitment to feed the nation and make sure our customers got the essentials they needed. Thank you and congratulations to Trish, Rani, Eugenia and Andrew and thank you to each and every one of our colleagues for doing such a fantastic job serving our customers every day.”