STAFF at a Halesowen shop who started an initiative which is being rolled out across the country have been shortlisted for a national award.
Supervisor Karen Hands and manager Julie Davies, who work at Holland and Barrett in the Cornbow shopping centre, have been shortlisted in the Community Champion category at The National Retail Awards 2024.
The pair started menopause talks to promote alternative help available to women rather than going down the HRT route.
They have staged a series of talks, free of charge, in the local community, helping scores of women.
And the initiative has proved so popular Holland and Barrett is set to roll it out at its stores across the country.
Karen, aged 54, said: "People started coming in and asking about the menopause and alternative ways to manage it so Julie and myself went to the Halesowen menopause group to give a talk off our own backs one evening.
"We also did talks at the WI and Bella's Beautiful Things in Halesowen.
"The firm got wind of it and said we should be paid and it should be structured and it went from there.
"It's all free and we are not selling anything - it's all about keeping people healthy.
"We are incredibly excited and thrilled to be nominated for the award."
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at The Grosvenor Hotel in London at the start of March.
Karen and Julie, aged 51, were nominated by their regional manager.
Anyone wanting to book a talk for their company or group can pop into the shop for information.
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