THE joint chief executive of the East of England Co-op shook hands with royalty after receiving a prestigious award.

The Princess Royal congratulated Mark O’Hagan on behalf of the independent retailer for its commitment to training and skills development.

The business was one of 34 organisations honoured with a Princess Royal Training Award for creating lasting impact by successfully linking their skills development with their community investment.

The judges were impressed with the Co-op’s bespoke dementia-friendly retail awareness training.

The East of England Co-op’s Dementia Champion and Learning and Development team worked in partnership with the Norfolk and Suffolk Dementia Alliance, Suffolk University and Alzheimer’s Society to create four bespoke training modules for their 4,500 colleagues.

It is reported more than 50,000 people are living with dementia across the region, which is set to rise by 2030.

Mr O’Hagan, who went to St James’s Palace to meet Princess Anne, said: “As a community retailer it’s important we support people to retain their independence and feel a part of their community for as long as possible.

“We made a pledge to become the first dementia-friendly retailer in our region.

“Our aim has been to create an environment where people living with dementia, together with their families and carers, feel comfortable and safe to shop.”

More than 80 per cent of staff have completed the training to improve their interpersonal skills.

“We also wanted to provide our colleagues with the necessary knowledge and skills for them to confidently support our customers when needed.”