When Nottingham Express Transit celebrated their 20th anniversary earlier this year two members of staff decided they wanted to have their own anniversary in the future as they got engaged! Gary and Nicola have worked at NET for 18 and 10 years respectively and Gary decided that the 20th anniversary was a great time to cement their romance.
Gary is a revenue protection officer and Nicola a customer experience leader and have been together for nine years – with many of their colleagues unaware that they were in a relationship. With the trams having played a key part in their relationship, Gary decided the 20th anniversary would be an ideal opportunity to pop the question.
Gary said: “I first thought I’d do it on stage on a cruise that we had planned for the end of the year, but then when our work 20th anniversary came along, I thought it was the perfect opportunity. Becki, who planned the party, and all the senior team at NET were on board and doing what they could to help my plan – even if not many of them even knew we were a couple until I approached them about it. All I had to do was find a ring, in just under a week, which came with its own challenges.”
And that challenge came about as Nicola doesn’t wear any rings so Gary had to find a way to discover what her size was.
As Nicola explains: “I remember walking into the kitchen. Gary owns lots of tools and he had them all out on the side, trying to find something to allegedly lend to a friend. He opened a box of washers and started messing around, giving a few to me, to see which one fitted my finger and I didn’t think anything of it.”
Both Gary and Nicola have won “Employee of the Year” at NET. Gary won in 2022 and in 2023 it was Nicola’s turn, with the award being given at the anniversary ball. This gave Gary the ideal opportunity to ask the question whilst she was centre stage.
Nicola continues: “We had already done a private presentation of the Employee of the Year award in a green room upstairs, which was enough attention for me, so when I got called up again in front of everyone during dinner, I buried my head in my hands. Then when they asked Gary to join me on stage, I thought they were taking the mickey, but thankfully there was a good reason.”
Gary added: “My main goal was to embarrass Nicola as much as possible, but on the night I realised, it’s probably worse for me as I was doing this in front of colleagues I’ve worked with for 18 years. I’m a very emotional person, and it was very hard to try not to cry – although I was pleased when I didn’t have to keep this a secret from her any longer and we could enjoy our night.”
The couple now plan to use NET to get to their wedding ceremony with a venue in central Nottingham booked.
Chris Wright, Managing Director of NET, said: “We absolutely love a love story at NET, so it was fantastic to get the chance to be a part of such a special occasion for two of our special colleagues. We wish Gary and Nicola the very best for their upcoming wedding and all the happiness in the world for the next stop in their romance.”