Former air traffic controller Marcus is flying high in his new role with Asda
Our fantastic delivery driver Marcus Alder used to be responsible for ensuring aircraft were in the right place at the right time in his job as an air traffic controller – so it's no surprise to his colleagues at our Nuneaton store that he's doing such a great job getting customers' groceries to them when they need them.
Marcus has made a big impression with customers and colleagues alike since he joined us at the start of the pandemic and he always goes out of his way to help shoppers especially the vulnerable, stopping for a chat, putting their shopping away and even taking their rubbish bins out to be collected.
His kindness and professionalism has resulted in him being nominated in the Proud to be Asda Awards.
Fifty-year-old Marcus was an air traffic controller for 22 years, working at Glasgow, Leeds/Bradford, Birmingham, Baghdad and Abu Dhabi airports until the Covid pandemic started and he found himself out of work.
He moved back to England, saw that his local store was recruiting, and hasn't looked back after joining the team.
Marcus said: "I enjoy driving, always have done, and I love being out on the road. I find it quite peaceful and so when my local store was recruiting I felt it was the logical choice.
"It's such a contrast to my former job. It's great meeting people and no two days are the same. I get to know all the regular customers and know their kids and the pets' names. I'm a people person really.
"Throughout the pandemic there were a lot of elderly people who were on their own so the only friendly face they saw was the delivery driver. They always had the same slots and more often then not I was the guy that they saw.
"I was always there for them to talk to and do a bit here and there if they needed it. One of my customers has a rescue greyhound and she doesn't see anyone as her kids live miles away so we would stand on the doorstep and talk about her dog and what she's been doing. It's important for them to see people."
On being nominated for a Proud to be Asda Award, Marcus said: "I'm humbled that someone thinks highly enough of me to nominate me. We have colleagues across the company who do so much, so to be nominated and shortlisted is a fantastic achievement – and I'm quite proud of myself if I'm honest!
"Throughout my working life I've aways done my job whatever it may be to the best of my ability. It's important that my job is done properly and done right. It's not just a case of dropping off the shopping and saying 'here you go' and walking away. There's a lot more to it than that."
Marcus is married to Michelle and has three children; Joe, who is 22 and works on Click & Collect at the same Nuneaton store, 19-year-old Grace and Ben, who's 17. And they are all proud of him too.
Our Nuneaton store's home shopping section leader Shorn Oulton says Marcus is a breath of fresh air and has made a great impression on everyone.
He said: "He's a very friendly, happy-go-lucky chap who will always help people wherever and whenever he can. He's not a selfish person at all. He's always going above and beyond to help our customers. I'm really pleased that he is up for an award."
To see who's been shortlisted for the Colleague of the Year award at the Proud To Be Asda Awards 2021 and vote for your favourite go to https://www.asda.com/proud-to-be-asda-awards