Penny is on the move again – this time reinforcing its commitment to its long-standing family legacy. The son and daughter of Founder/Owner David Penny have stepped into two very different roles within the organisation: Tom Penny has been appointed Property Manager, while Nuala Penny joins the HR team.
“It brings me immense pride to welcome Tom and Nuala into the business,” said David Penny. “As part of the wider team, they will play an important role in helping the business continue to grow while ensuring our family involvement remains strong. Upholding the core family values that have made us successful over the years is important to all of us.”
Founded as a family business over 30 years ago, the principles of the 5 Penny ‘Ps’ on which the business was built – Partnerships, Passion, Positivism, Pride and Perseverance – continue to create a great place to shop, a great place to work and a great partner to do business with.
Having played professional sport for the last ten years, Tom says he is enjoying the change of pace in his new role. “No two days are the same,” he explains. His work involves travelling to sites across the property portfolio, and his long-standing interest in buying and selling property has made the transition a natural one. He is now responsible for maximising revenue from the estate’s leaseholds, ensuring commercial units are let, managing relationships with leaseholders, and supporting the acquisition of new locations.
“We never really discussed any plan for me to join the business—this definitely wasn’t part of any succession strategy,” he added. “The role just suited my situation, it’s a long-term opportunity and I’m looking forward to making it my own.” Asked what he has learned about his dad since joining, he laughed: “I never truly appreciated what Dad was involved in. Now I have a much better understanding – and honestly, no one has a bad word to say about him!”
Nuala, who previously worked in education, also hadn’t anticipated joining the family business. Working remotely, Nuala now manages group vacancies, conducts initial screening calls and supports the full recruitment process for store manager roles.
“Joining the family business is a real privilege,” she said. “Dad has built a fantastic team and the vibe across the business is excellent. I’m loving being part of it and helping to recruit the managers of the future.”
As for whether work now dominates family gatherings, both siblings agree: “We don’t really talk about work – it’s always been kept separate, and it’s staying that way!”
Which, to be honest, is probably the best policy for everyone concerned!