Outdoor and Cycle Concepts Ltd

We are thrilled to be shortlisted for the Merchant Impact Award at this year's Pennies Awards. Pennies Awards celebrate micro-donation champions and are a chance to highlight those partners and individuals who have gone above and beyond to make micro-donations matter. This award recognises a merchant partner that has enabled significant growth in micro-donations as a result of specific actions, driving increased consumer donations in their business and unlocking increased measurable impact for their charity partners.

We know people are happier outside...but we also know we have a responsibility to help protect the outdoor spaces we love for future generations to enjoy. It's why we're supporting the It’s Up to Us campaign by Mountaineering Scotland and Outdoor Access Trust Scotland, to raise funds for urgent repairs and maintenance on Scotland's mountain trails. We're asking customers to help us by donating as little as 1p through Pennies when shopping in store with us at Cotswold Outdoor in Scotland. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/eUDSgQPR

Thanks to the generous Pennies donations and support from our customers, together we’ve raised £38,067.96 for Cancer Research UK (CRUK)'s Race for Life.   The money will help fund more of CRUK’s life-saving work to bring us closer to a world free from the fear of cancer.   Runners Need's sponsored this year's events, which saw more than 250,000 people taking part across the UK, raising an incredible £250,000 for life-saving research.   Thank you.

Last week we held our annual Summit event for managers across the business. It was a fantastic opportunity to get 120 of our business leaders in the same room (at Basset Down Complex) and prepare for the Peak season ahead. A room full of energy, ideas and enthusiasm - we can't wait to see the success achieve in AW24.

Today we launch our Cotswold Outdoor AW24 campaign - and it also marks the beginning of CO's 50th anniversary celebrations. Our marketing team have done a brilliant job in producing this video which showcases our heritage, while also highlighting how we continue to remain relevant and experts in our field. Since 1974 and always.

Today is International Dog Day and our Internal Comms team love any excuse to be sent pictures of dogs - and our teams never disappoint. We know our four-legged friends love the great outdoors as much as we do, as you can see from this small selection of photos we received. Our team has some fantastic tips on exploring with your pups too: https://lnkd.in/e74VXKiw

Some of the team from Cotswold Outdoor were lucky enough to join Every Body Outdoors recently on one of their regional walks. Heading to Cleeve Hill, near Cheltenham, we were treated to fantastic views as well as brilliant support and company for the walk. It was a great experience, and all of the participants - from novice to experienced hiker - were made to feel welcome and confident.

We are pleased to announce Jamie Kristow has joined us as CEO.  Jamie has an extensive background in retail around the world spanning more than two decades, including roles at Hudson’s Bay, Sussan Group, Target (Australia) and Woolworths (South Africa) amongst others.  He said: “I’m delighted to be joining the business at what is an exciting time for both us, the outdoor sector and the wider retail industry. “With its heritage, top brand offering and colleague knowledge, I want to ensure O&CC continues to be a leader in the outdoor sector whilst ensuring that we put our customers at the heart of everything we do.”  

At Outdoor & Cycle Concepts, our goal is to create a supportive and enriching environment where colleagues can thrive. One of the ways we do this is via Perkbox, a comprehensive employee benefits platform designed to support, reward and celebrate our dedicated colleagues.     Perkbox offers a wealth of wellness resources and discounts available wherever they may be while also providing the opportunity to recognise and reward colleagues for their hard work.  

Last night, Cotswold Outdoor Ambleside hosted special guest Faye Latham for a female-only poetry workshop.   Attendees had an opportunity to connect with other female outdoor groups before a talk about Faye’s book 'British Mountaineers'.   Faye then delivered her poetry workshop which gave all attendees a chance to get creative and unleash their inner poet.   O&CC Marketing Manager, April Howie, said: “It was a fantastic event bringing like-minded women together.   “Faye Latham's workshop was really inspiring and creative, and it was lovely to see everyone's passion for mountaineering and poetry shine through.”   Thank you to Stiles of Ambleside for providing the refreshments.