9 July 2021 – Ray Shaw, the longstanding and acclaimed Chairman of Gawsworth Community Shop, is to step down from his role. A new chairperson will be appointed later this year and the recruitment process to find Ray’s successor is now underway.

In the interim period, Ray will assist the Board to implement a new IT infrastructure comprising electronic point of sale hardware and software and a modern website to help the shop run more effectively. Ray’s wife, Val Shaw, will also relinquish her director’s position on the community shop’s Board as the pair prepare to enjoy retirement following their outstanding contribution for the people of Gawsworth parish.

“I have achieved everything that I set out to do five years ago and feel that now is the right time to handover to a new chairperson to deliver the Board’s vision for the next phase. I look forward to working with them to ensure a smooth transition”, said Ray Shaw.

Following a background in IT consultancy Ray Shaw has given ten years of dedicated volunteer service to Gawsworth Shop fulfilling several roles, including Company Secretary and Deputy Manager shortly after the shop opened in March 2011. In 2016, Ray became Chairman and has played a leading role in preserving the future of the last remaining shop in the Gawsworth community.

Under Ray’s guidance, Gawsworth Community Shop celebrated its tenth anniversary in March. More recently, the shop has been transformed into a community hub with a bright future ahead which will deliver a wide range of new benefits to the local community. The hub will formally be opened later this year.

“Transforming a village shop into a community hub has been a complex and hugely challenging project. It has also been an immensely rewarding one, not just for me personally, but because it provides facilities that many communities lack,” explained Ray Shaw.

“It has required an enormous team effort from the start. I want to thank all our volunteers, employees, directors, shareholders and funding organisations for their support, commitment and effort, as without them, it would not have turned out to be the success it has been,” continued Ray.

The search has begun to appoint a new chairperson for Gawsworth Community Shop by the end of this year. Interested candidates should email volunteering@gawsworthshop.co.uk with a covering letter outlining their suitability for this volunteer-based role, or contact HR coordinator Daryl Williams for an initial discussion on 07967 408865. The closing date for applications is 31 August.