YORKSHIRE APPOINTMENT FOR SHOPPING CENTRE MANAGER

CHELTENHAM’S Beechwood Shopping Centre manager Pete Barber is leaving at the end of the year to take up a new post in Hull.

Mr Barber has been at Beechwood for three and a half years, moving from Worcester where he was operations manager at the CrownGate shopping centre.

His successor at Beechwood has not yet been announced.

Mr Barber, who lives in Tenbury Wells, near Worcester with his wife Nicky, a health visitor practitioner and his son Noah,13 was a health and safety consultant before moving into shopping centre management. Before that he was a paramedic for 18 years.

He has been appointed centre manager at The Prospect Centre in Hull, succeeding Amanda Austin who has taken up a new position in Grimsby.

Mr Barber, 47, an F1 motor racing and football fan, takes up his new post in January and he will continue at Beechwood until his successor is appointed.

A Stoke City and Shrewsbury Town (his home town) supporter, he is now looking forward to the chance of seeing Premiership football at Hull City. He also enjoys tinkering with cars, DIY and gardening.
Mr Barber says the centre manager’s role has provided him with many challenges but says he has learned a lot.

“I have also met some lovely people in my time at Beechwood and have always been made to feel very welcome by all the tenants,” he says.

“I won’t miss my 96-mile round trip between work and home every day but I will miss all the people, the tenants, management, centre staff, contractors and visitors who have contributed to making my three years an enriching and memorable experience.”

Mr Barber says retail generally has seen has seen both highs and lows during his time in Cheltenham.

“Three years ago the economy was at its peak then we had the so-called credit crunch and the country went into recession, but Beechwood seems to have dealt with all this very well. We’ve seen a number of changes, most of which have been very positive with the opening of new shops such as Rise, Animal, Game On, Fresh Crust, Jewellery Stop, Dog's Doodahs, the relocation of Cafe La Scala, Best of Cheltenham and others, so all in all I think the Centre and its staff can feel justifyably proud.”

Mr Barber says his new appointment will be another new learning experience, and one he relishes.

“I'll be relying on my new team’s depth of knowledge and experience to assist me in the first instance, and then working and learning together for the benefit of all stakeholders,” he added.