Copyright belfastlive
Paula Barratt’s Journey with Marks and Spencer has seen her work at a number of locations from Northern Ireland to England, since she first joined the company in 1988. After working at a number of different stores for M&S which also saw her employed outside of the region, she has been at the Craigavon site since 2020. The renewed Craigavon store will open on Friday, November 28, and will be the first store outside of England to feature in ITV ’s ‘Inside M&S’, airing in December . Paula's connection with the retailer began long before she joined the company, starting when she was working across the road from a store in Northern Ireland. After she met her now-husband who was visiting from Leeds on a work project, she ended up working at an M&S in the Northern English city where she met her best friend Carol. Almost 40 years later, Paula is now working at the Craigavon store which has recently undergone a renewal which will see the improvements unveiled next month. Paula said: “I used to work across the road from the Belfast store and always looked over thinking, one day I’d love to work for M&S. "After a few years of dating, I went to Leeds to see what life was like there – and would you believe it, the local M&S Foodhall was hiring. I finally got my M&S job, just not in the city I expected. “Carol and I met in the Leeds Foodhall and we’ve been best friends ever since. We started our M&S journeys together and have been there for everything since, including raising our families – from kids to grandkids, we’ve shared it all.” When her husband’s work brought them back to Northern Ireland, Paula seized the opportunity to continue her M&S journey closer to home. In 1989, she smoothly transferred from Leeds to the newly opened Lisburn store at Sprucefield, where she worked in Menswear. Then, in 2020, an opening at Craigavon allowed her to return to the Foodhall – a perfect fit given she lives in nearby Portadown. And five years later, she will still be on board at the store when its renewal is revealed later this month. The Craigavon renewal forms part of M&S’s investment in transforming stores across the UK, designed to offer customers a modern, welcoming shopping experience with an enhanced Foodhall and more sustainable design features. Being back in the Foodhall – where her M&S journey began – Paula says she still thrives on the fast-paced environment and customer connection that the Foodhall brings. Paula added: “When I look back, I feel so proud of the journey I’ve had with M&S – from Leeds to Lisburn and now Craigavon,” she says. “I just can’t believe how quickly time goes by, and to now be 37 years with M&S is surreal. I’ve seen so much change over the years, but what’s never changed is the people – the amazing colleagues and loyal customers. “Being part of the Craigavon renewal is really exciting. Customers ask why things look a bit different at the moment, and when we tell them what’s coming, they get just as excited as we are. We’re all counting down the days.” On Paula’s long service, Ryan Lemon, Regional Manager for M&S Northern Ireland, said: “It’s brilliant to see Paula's passion and dedication for M&S, no matter the city. Her 37-year journey shows how people grow and evolve with M&S, and it’s inspiring to see her still bringing the same warmth and energy to Craigavon today. With the transformation at Craigavon almost complete, it’s colleagues like Paula who help deliver great quality, trusted value, and set the standard for exceptional customer experience.” For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter
