During these challenging times for businesses across the country, Welsh business Castell Howell has found a way to support UK Government and Local Council communication of key messages to communities across the UK. Through new impactful livery on their rigid vehicles, built by Gray & Adams, Castell Howell are championing the ‘Stay home, Protect the NHS, Save Lives campaign’, driving the message home as they operate to support their customers in the care sector and NHS.
From rural beginnings in 1988, Castell Howell are Wales’ leading independent food service wholesaler, servicing the length and breadth of Wales, the Border Counties and the South West of England. Castell Howell has always been passionate about supporting the community and engaging with the younger generation, having launched a livery initiative a few years ago as a new way of engaging schools, young people and local communities. The initiative was a competition for schools to enter, with pupils designing the livery for several Castell Howell vehicles, one of these won ‘Livery of the Year’ at the Temperature Controlled Storage and Distribution (TCS&D) Awards in 2018.
Though the country-wide schools’ competition had been set to run in 2020, the COVID-19 crisis meant that this was placed on hold. In searching for something that they could do to support communities throughout the crisis, Martin Jones, Director of Transport Operations, hit upon the idea of sharing the current Government advice and messaging on COVID-19 on the livery of some key vehicles in their fleet.
He explained,
“At Castell Howell, we feel that we still have a responsibility and a role to play as a business in what’s happening across the UK at the moment. Though we’re facing many challenges in our own business, we are doing what we can to make a difference, no matter how small, in spreading these vitally important messages to communities.
He went on,
“The message from Central Governments and Councils is stay home, protect the NHS and save lives. We wanted to support this 3-pronged approach and take those three messages to local communities, through our reduced fleet. Our vehicles are still active in suppling essential support to customers in nursing and care homes, as well as the NHS. Though it’s a small gesture, we wanted to make sure that anyone out on the roads gets a subtle reminder to stay at home and help to support our NHS.”
Having worked together for over 15 years, Gray & Adams is delighted to be the supplier of choice to Castell Howell. Their engagement with the community throughout this challenging period for many across the UK, is one we are proud to be a small part of.