Jason, who works in BP1, receives a framed certificate, a commemorative plaque and a £100 reward for his long service, which he reports has already been spent on a couple of pairs of snazzy new trainers.

The scheme recognises lengths of service in five-year increments starting at five years, with the rewards increasing with each milestone and culminating in the 25-year award.

In fact, it's the second time in two years Jason's benefited from our scheme. He received a £100 voucher, certificate and two days' additional holidays to mark 20 years when we launched the scheme in 2024, particularly to recognise the 42 employees (at that time) who had each given us between 20 and 25 years loyal and valuable service.

"When the scheme was launched, I'd done 24 years, so I was one short of the '25' award, but I got the 20-year award, instead," explains Jason. "It's always been a really a great place to work. There's a lot of great lads. I've seen a lot of good lads come and go but even all the new lads are just as good."

Dad-of-two Jason first joined us working nights as a dim (dimension) saw operator after a word-of-mouth recommendation from a family member and spent over 12 years on the night shift until it was ended around the time of the Covid-19 pandemic. He then moved to BP 1, where took on the CNC drilling duties.

He began his working life as a painter and decorator after embarking on a YTS training scheme after leaving school but then retrained as cabinet maker with Gledhill Kitchens on Shaw Road, in Oldham.

When that job became redundant, he moved down just down the road to David Michael Interiors, where he worked for eight years before coming to HPP.

Marketing manager, Kenika Gumbs, says: "Congratulations Jason on reaching your incredible milestone. Your dedication, passion, and hard work have truly made a difference, and we are so grateful to have you as part of our team."

As for Jason, he says he's no plans to go anywhere and has set his sights on a 30-year award!

HPP is now on WhatsApp, giving our customers the ability to have another form of direct communication with us and allowing more meaningful interaction with the right person from the outset. It'll also give us the opportunity to reach out directly to customers with product information, range updates, important company announcements and promotional offers.

There are a few simple steps to get chatting to us:

• Open WhatsApp on your phone or tablet
• Add HPP as a 'New Contact' using our WhatsApp number: 07754 637 300
• Save the number, open a new chat with us and away we go!
• You can also click here to start a chat now

Being one of the world's more popular chat services, with around 3 billion monthly active users globally and around 28-30 million active users per month in the UK, that's a good reason as any for HPP to get chatting with WhatsApp. We appreciate not everyone needs to - or wants to - talk directly to another person, so the platform gives us a chance to handle incoming messages in a smarter way, directing those requests that just need product information or a page on the website.

Using WhatsApp gives trade customers the opportunity to send us text, voice messages and video messages: rather than trying to describe an issue over the phone, a couple of photos sent to us is likely to speed up communication to the right person as well as clearly identifying the issue at hand. And it'll work the other way too: we'll be able to direct customers to the right online resources as applicable and even send technical documents and instructions.

Rest assured though, if you want to pick up the phone and speak to one of our sales team, that is still an option! We also appreciate not all our trade customers are comfortable with smart phones and apps, so we're here to talk on the usual sales number: 0161 620 5656.

These new additions to the Cut & Edged range are based on full sheet sales and customer feedback, reinforcing the ever-changing trends in the colours and décors that end-customers are inspired to choose.

• Light Natural Casella Oak H1367 ST40
• Marone Casella Oak H1369 ST40
• Natural Halifax Oak H1180 ST37 (18.6mm)
• Sage Green U638 ST9

These four decors are available as full sheets (2800 x 2070mm) and can also be ordered as PVC-edged doors in our Aspects Optima range, giving customers absolute control and choice when creating a continuous, free-flowing design in any room.

The four new décors are edged both sides with 0.8mm ABS edging, again reflecting the feedback from customers and giving the best finish possible to individual components.

Consumers are increasingly choosing thicker components; traditionally 18mm-thick boards were used in kitchen components and thinner 15mm panels in bedroom furniture. However, over the last few years there has been a growing trend towards the use of thicker 18mm products for higher quality furniture in all KBB installations. So it makes perfect sense for our Cut & Edged product range to support this.

Quick Links

New Cut & Edged Décors

• Light Natural Casella Oak Cut and Edged
• Marone Casella Oak Cut and Edged
• Natural Halifax Oak (18.6mm) Cut and Edged
• Sage Green Cut and Edged

Full Sheets

Aspects Optima Door Builder

She is stepping up from Assistant Marketing Manager, a role she's held since joining us two years ago, during which time she's been mentored by Marketing and Business Development Director, Dan Mounsey.

Kenika's appointment is the latest chapter of a tumultuous journey that began on the small Caribbean Island of Anguilla, where she was born and raised by her grandmother after her mother, a teacher, passed away when Kenika was only five.

She says: "It was a tough life growing up, seeing my grandmother struggle on a day-to-day basis. Just to put food on the plate was very difficult, and it has given me the drive to do something for myself and strive to make a better life - but it's not always been easy."

After coming to the UK to study and find work, Kenika says she was met by 'rejection after rejection'.

"I moved to the UK with big dreams and a hopeful heart in 2014, only to find myself sleeping on the streets shortly after," adds Kenika. "By 2016, I had hit rock bottom - completely homeless, completely broken, and nearly gave up on everything.

"But I told my grandmother, 'I know my purpose. I can't come back home. I'm here for a reason.' I've kept going and I've never stopped believing. And now - I'm walking into my purpose."

Kenika finally combined studying with a variety of part-time jobs, going on to pass a foundation degree in business management from Teesside University, a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Bedfordshire, all of which she studied for at Oldham's University Campus and then a master's degree in digital marketing from Salford University.

And her appointment comes at a time when the debate about women working in the KBB industry has seen some high-profile contributions, not least at KBB Birmingham earlier this year with a panel discussion about empowering the next generation of women in the KBB workplace - when speaking up, not fearing failure and mentorship were the key topics.

Kenika says: "I love working at HPP. From the moment I came here, it's been like being part of one big family, and that's very important to me and what I want from my job.

"Thank you to Dan, and everyone at HPP, for listening to my ideas, for letting me be me and for never asking me to shrink, change or fit in.

"To everyone I've met so far - you've made this journey unforgettable. And to everyone I've yet to meet - I can't wait!"

Dan says: "I am delighted for Kenika - hers is such an inspiring story and shows what you can achieve with sheer grit and determination combined with talent and a love for your work.

"We strongly believe everybody deserves a chance here at HPP, regardless of gender and any other number of circumstances, and it's great to see someone take the chance when they get it. I'm sure this is only the beginning for Kenika."

Previously studying one day a week at Oldham College, Olivia has now started her Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting, studying online with McArthur Morgan.

Olivia, who joined us in September 2023, shared her positive experience: "Overall, I found the course to be beneficial. It's a great opportunity to start your career, providing the work experience you need. Keep pushing forward and never give up!"

For her final assessment, Olivia covered business awareness, financial accounting, management accounting techniques and tax processes for business.

Olivia, aged 21 and from Limeside, is a former pupil at the Co-op Academy in Failsworth. She first became interested in finance as it was a role her mum used to work in.

However, she originally decided to study social care at college before realising it wasn't for her and then took a year out before returning to complete her Level 2 finance qualification, also at Oldham College.

And she is planning to follow a similar path after her Level 4 studies by taking a gap year before taking on a three to four-year challenge of becoming a chartered accountant.

Outside of work, film fan Olivia says her favourite movie is The Notebook, a moving true story based on a novel by Nicholas Sparks about a couple together for 60 years, who impressed her with how strong their love for each other was.