Former Sainsbury’s Manager Christina Lucas returns to retail with Marks and Spencer appointment
Christina Lucas has returned to the retail world, taking on a new role at M&S. She joins from Virgin. Before that, Lucas spent five years at Sainsbury’s Digital, Tech and Data.
In a LinkedIn post, she said: “Excited to be back in the retail world! I'm thrilled to be joining M&S as a Senior Technical Programme Manager within the Food space. Looking forward to getting stuck into new challenges, collaborating with fantastic teams, and contributing to such an iconic brand. Here's to the next adventure of both a new city and job, let’s go!”
WalkSafe Pro
M&S is introducing a WalkSafe Pro app, with the aim of helping colleagues feel safer when travelling alone or commuting at night.
Powered by location-based insights from police, local authorities and community partners, WalkSafe Pro helps colleagues make more informed journey decisions by providing information based on both police data and precautionary insights from other app users. They can share their live journey with trusted contacts, while SOS alerts connect directly to Mitie’s 24/7 control centre, enabling real-time monitoring, assessment and a coordinated response where required.
The app can also be used outside of work. Over time, M&S stores will also be marked as designated ‘safe spaces’ within the app, supported by colleague training. This means users will be able to identify nearby stores as a place to step inside, feel reassured and seek support if they feel unsafe during a journey.
Thinus Keeve, M&S Retail Director, says: "Our colleagues’ need for safety doesn’t stop when a shift ends - and our colleagues have told us that travelling to and from work can be when they feel most vulnerable. WalkSafe is a simple but powerful way we’re responding. It’s another way we’re continuing to invest in security - helping our people stay connected and supported wherever they are. And as our stores will become WalkSafe Safe Spaces, we’re to extend our role into the communities we serve, helping to create safer environments for everyone."
Jason Towse, Managing Director, Business Services, Mitie, says: “Everyone deserves to feel safe, whether they’re at work, travelling home or out in their own time. Our partnership with M&S is a fantastic example of how we can work together to better support colleagues in those moments where they feel most vulnerable. “This is an important step towards building safer communities, helping people feel more confident wherever they are. By combining WalkSafe’s technology with Mitie’s frontline expertise, 24/7 monitoring and response capability, we’re able to provide practical, real-time support when it’s needed most.”
Emma Kay, Founder, WalkSafe, comments: “WalkSafe was created to address a simple but important problem: too many people don’t feel safe when travelling alone, particularly after dark. Built from lived experience, it brings together real-time information and practical tools to help people better understand their surroundings and take control of their personal safety. Through partnerships like this one with M&S, we’re extending that support further, helping organisations play a more active role in giving colleagues and local communities greater confidence, reassurance and access to help when they need it.”
