Newcastle Building Society (NBS) is casting an eye to the future by burying a time capsule in the walls of its newly refurbished branch in Cramlington’s Manor Walks Shopping Centre.Team mates from Cramlington Juniors donated items to fill the time capsule as well as members of Knitty Knatters, a local charitable group.
The 600mm length x 145mm diameter time capsule includes a number of mementoes from both groups including a picture of Cramlington Juniors, a football top and a tie, while Knitty Knatters donated a CD containing their story, some knitted items, newspaper clippings about the group and NBS included a Tyneside history book.
Due to open in September, with an official launch event on 3rd October, the newly designed branch will continue to serve Cramlington and wider South East Northumberland Community as it has done since the early 1980s.
Construction work is now finished on the new look branch, which will provide customers with a much better journey, including bigger private meeting spaces and improved access to staff, in addition to the traditional counter service. Digital screens to keep customers up to date with products and promotions as well as Society news together with a large community area for local good causes to promote themselves will ensure that the branch is welcomed by customers old and new.
The branch design was created following positive customer feedback at other flagship branches that have been remodelled and the plan is to roll out the concept across other branches in the Society’s heartland.
Cramlington Branch Manager, Kelly Beattie, said: “We have been part of the local community for over 30 years, during which time the town centre as well as the town itself has grown. When we decided to redevelop our branch to make it even better we wanted to mark the occasion and we thought to capture present time was a great way to do that.
“Newcastle has worked with both Cramlington Juniors and Knitty Knatters before so it made sense to involve them in our time capsule project.
“The launch of the branch is fast approaching us and we can’t wait to move into our new home and show our customers their much improved branch.”