Lilian Mains cuts one of the cakes to celebrate Zodiac’s 13th Birthday

Our birthday week got off to a great start on Sunday with our ‘Picnic in the Park’ in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support (pictures of the day can be viewed here) and culminated in drinks and cakes at our head office in Team Valley, Gateshead.

We’ve come a long way in 13 years. We started in a small office in Sunderland with 3 staff and have grown to be one of the biggest Training Providers in the region with 180 staff across 8 sites including Sunderland, Gateshead, South Shields and Wansbeck.

Company founder and Managing Director, Lilian Mains said, “I’m extremely proud Zodiac has reached its teenage years and that we’re bigger and better than ever. This achievement is down to good, loyal staff and a lot of dedication and hard work from a whole range of people working together to succeed.

“There have been highs and lows during our 13 years, but the highs far outweigh the lows and we have achieved some fantastic awards and gained some tremendous contracts.

“I believe that living the company values of Respect, Integrity, Commitment and Innovation have have played a big part in our success and to those I’d also add two other values – being Positive and spreading a Smile!

“We have some very exciting projects coming up and I’m looking forward to the challenges of the next 13 years. I would like to thank everyone for their continued contribution to the success of Zodiac.”

Thank you to everyone who came along to Saltwell Park on Sunday 27 September and supported Zodiac’s ‘Picnic in the Park’ in aid of  Macmillan Nurses. A good time was had by all.

To find out how you can help Macmillan Cancer Support, please follow the link to their Get Involved Pages.

Click below to see pictures from the day:

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Since 2008 Sleepmasters and Zodiac Training have worked in partnership to provide Sleepmasters’ staff nationwide with NVQ qualifications in Customer Service and Team Leading.

Angela’s Delight: Angela Hibbert receives her certificate from Zodiac’s Nigel Merryweather

Angela Hibbert of Sleepmasters’ Bolton store is one of the first staff members to complete her NVQ qualification; in addition she also achieved a certificate in Adult Numeracy.

Angela said, “The Customer Service NVQ has made dealing with customers that bit easier and helped me be more efficient. I found my Training Advisor to be very helpful and professional and I would like to progress on to a further qualification with Zodiac.”

Zodiac Team Leader Nigel Merryweather, one of the training experts who have been delivering the qualifications to Sleepmasters’ staff across the country said, “I’m extremely pleased for Angela, she deserves great credit for her willingness to learn, application and dedication in achieving these qualifications and I am proud to be here today to present her with her certificate in recognition of all that she has accomplished.”

Angela added, “I enjoyed doing the NVQ, I’ve found it very useful and I would encourage anyone else to do it too!”

For more about Zodiac’s NVQ and Apprenticeship courses visit our Training Pages.
For further information about Sleepmasters click here to visit their website.