Viewpoint: Community at its heart

It is always a fantastic occasion as retailers, suppliers and politicians meet and share ideas and findings. This year was even more memorable, as it included the presentation of the Raj Aggarwal trophy to its first-ever winner, Julie Kaur.

Myself, Raj’s wife Sunita, Avtar Sidhu and James Lowman were this year’s judges and it was incredibly difficult to pick a winner from the large number of entries.

All the retailers that entered had amazing stories to tell of how, faced with the numerous challenges brought about by the pandemic, they went above and beyond to serve the communities that so desperately needed their help.

Over the years, I have been involved in many retailer panels and chaired many meetings, but I can honestly say this year’s Heart of the Community finalists panel was the most emotionally charged I have ever been involved with.

Being an independent retailer isn’t a job, it’s a way of life, and with that comes a responsibility to those we serve.

You could have heard a pin drop in the auditorium as each of the three retailers gave their accounts of the services they had offered throughout the pandemic.

The silence was only broken as those present broke into applause on hearing the acts of kindness and generosity each of the three finalists spoke about.

My huge congratulations to all three – Sophie Willams, Nico Ali and Julie Kaur – for being truly inspirational.

We were also delighted to see Raj’s family there to watch the presentation made by retail minister Paul Scully.

I am incredibly proud to be an independent retailer and the Raj Aggarwal trophy is a reminder of why we should all take pride in the role we play in the communities we serve.

By Jonathan James, owner of James Convenience Retail