Halfords and Pets at Home have joined forces for a unique colleague partnership, bringing together the specialist knowledge, skills and people of two of the UK’s leading retail organisations.
The collaboration saw colleagues from both businesses step forward to support one another, create memorable workplace experiences and raise funds for the Pets Foundation.
The partnership began earlier this summer when Pets at Home supported Halfords’ inaugural Bring Your Dog to Work Day at its Support Centre in Redditch. Around 50 dogs joined their owners for a day designed to promote colleague wellbeing, connection and fun.
Pets at Home helped bring the event to life with dual-branded dog accessories, pup-cakes and veterinary professionals from a local Vets for Pets practice, who were on hand to provide pet health and welfare advice.
The event gave Halfords colleagues the opportunity to spend time together outside their usual day-to-day roles, while highlighting the positive impact pet-friendly workplace initiatives can have on colleague wellbeing and engagement.
Halfords colleagues then travelled to the Pets at Home Support Office in Handforth to return the favour, sharing their own specialist expertise with Pets at Home colleagues.
Throughout the day, Halfords teams provided complimentary vehicle and bike health checks, travel and road-safety advice, Cycle2Work guidance and exclusive colleague discounts. Quizzes and fundraising activities also helped create an engaging experience while raising money for the Pets Foundation.
The partnership demonstrates what can be achieved when two major specialist retailers bring their colleagues, knowledge and capabilities together.
By sharing expertise and giving their people opportunities to connect, learn and participate, Halfords and Pets at Home have created a collaboration that delivers meaningful benefits for colleagues while supporting the wider community.
Funds raised through the events will support the Pets Foundation, which works to improve the lives of pets and the people who love them. Through grants and partnerships with rescue centres, rehoming organisations and animal welfare charities across the UK, the charity helps vulnerable pets access the care, treatment and support they need, while helping more animals find loving homes.
Henry Birch, Group Chief Executive Officer at Halfords, said: “Our Bring Your Dog to Work Day was a brilliant event for our colleagues, and Pets at Home played a huge part in making it such a success.
“It was great to be able to return the favour in Handforth, with our colleagues sharing their motoring and cycling expertise to help Pets at Home teams stay safe and confident on the move.
“This partnership has brought together two businesses with a real depth of specialist knowledge, but most importantly, it has brought our people together. We have been able to share expertise, create some memorable experiences for colleagues and raise money for a fantastic cause.”
James Bailey, Group Chief Executive Officer at Pets at Home, said: “We're proud of our reputation as a pet-friendly workplace, so supporting Halfords with its first Bring Your Dog to Work Day felt like a natural fit.
“It's been great to watch this relationship develop into a genuine exchange of expertise between two much-loved retail brands. Together, we've shared knowledge, supported the Pets Foundation and created memorable experiences for colleagues across both businesses."
