InPost Newstrade and Smiths News Receive First-Ever NewstrAid Excellence Plus Awards

Industry distributors recognised for providing outstanding support to NewstrAid

InPost Newstrade and Smiths News have become the first organisations to receive NewstrAid’s prestigious Excellence Plus Award, recognising both company’s exceptional and long-standing commitment to supporting the charity and the wider newstrade community.

Both awards were presented in July and were accepted by Mark Gilhespie, Supply Chain Director at InPost Newstrade and Jon Bunting CEO and Simon Gage Commercial Director at Smiths News.

For well over 100 years, both InPost Newstrade (previously Menzies Distribution) and Smiths News have played a vital role in supporting NewstrAid. Alongside being valued corporate sponsors, both companies help to raise awareness of the charity across the retail network, collect lottery subscriptions and charitable donations, support retailer recruitment campaigns, and encourage employees to sign up as Welfare Volunteers and Area Committee members.

Neil Jagger, CEO of NewstrAid, said: “InPost Newstrade and Smiths News have been outstanding partners to NewstrAid. Beyond their financial support, they help us reach retailers across the UK, promote our services to colleagues facing hardship and actively encourage participation in our fundraising and welfare initiatives. Their commitment has a genuine and lasting impact on the lives of the people we support, making both companies truly deserving recipients of our first Excellence Plus Awards.”

Mark Gilhespie, Supply Chain Director at InPost Newstrade, said: “We are honoured to receive this special recognition from NewstrAid. It reflects the dedication of our colleagues and long-standing relationship with the charity. I am proud to accept this award on behalf of everyone at InPost Newstrade.”

Jon Bunting, CEO for Smiths News, said: “We are proud to have such a long association with NewstrAid and I am delighted to accept the award on behalf of all my colleagues at Smiths News who support the charity and its work.

Launched in 2023, the NewstrAid Excellence Awards recognise individuals and organisations that make an exceptional contribution to the charity. The new Excellence Plus Award, introduced in 2026, represents the charity’s highest level of recognition and is reserved for truly outstanding and sustained support.

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For media information contact: Lindsay Rule; lindsay@newstraid.org.uk

About NewstrAid

NewstrAid is the charity supporting people who work, or have worked, in the sale and distribution of newspapers and magazines. Through financial assistance, emotional support and practical services, NewstrAid helps industry colleagues and their families navigate challenging times. The charity has been in existence since 1839 and counts Charles Dickens amongst its past presidents. In 2023 the charity was named ‘Charity of the Year’ at the ACO Awards.
www.newstraid.org.uk

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Mark Gilhespie (InPost Newstrade) and  Simon Gage & Jon Bunting (Smiths News) receive their Excellence Plus Awards.