DEBBIE ON THE DOUBLE FOR A FAILSWORTH FIRST

There aren’t many firsts for a 65-year-old market-leading family business, but twice naming the same member of staff as Employee of the Month is definitely a first for Housing Units. Department Manager for soft furnishings, Debbie Steele, has been awarded December Employee of the Month at Housing Units in Failsworth – six months after winning the same accolade for the first time. And while she takes the challenges of running a department in her stride, Debbie, 48, also from Failsworth, has a much bigger matter on her hands: supporting her 19-year-old son Nicholas through treatment for bone cancer. “I’ve said it before, but it applies just as much now: given the challenges Debbie has at home, it’s amazing quite how focussed, dedicated, friendly and supportive she can be with customers and colleagues alike,” said Nick Fox, director of Housing Units. Debbie’s son, Nick, is going through chemotherapy, and undergoing further treatment in a specialist orthopaedic hospital unit in the Midlands.

But while Debbie puts huge effort into supporting her son, she also finds the energy and dedication to her job that draws Employee of the Month-winning comments for colleagues such as “builds good relationships with her colleagues”, “responds positively to all requests for information and help”, “a very pleasant manner when dealing with customers”, “meticulous and thorough”, “you run out of superlatives to describe her”, “a shining example of positivity and focus”, “endlessly cheerful”, “instrumental to the success of the department and store”, and “her management skills show fairness but firmness ensuring all tasks are fulfilled”. “It was a big shock to win first time round, I must say, but I just do my job – and it’s really nice to get recognition. But to win it twice is incredibly inspiring.” Debbie has a choice of prizes, but has decided on a family night out paid for by Housing Units.