Colleague News: An update from Debbie, Awards and Inclusion Week
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Published 15 Sep 2026 in Colleagues
This week in Colleague News: Debbie celebrates Leckhampton's strong start and marks one year since Chelmsford Star joined OurCoop. Plus, we recognise our August Colleague of the Month winners, share highlights from our Bronze award success at the Global Sustainability Awards, and much more.
Marking one year together
This week also marks one year since Chelmsford Star Co-operative Society officially became part of OurCoop on 15 September 2025, securing its future after more than 150 years of service to communities across Essex.
Chelmsford Star has always valued its place at the heart of the Essex community. Becoming part of OurCoop has helped safeguard that heritage and local identity, while creating new opportunities through a larger independent co-operative.
Over the past year, colleagues have continued to serve their Members, customers and communities while becoming part of the wider OurCoop family. Together, we are building on Chelmsford Star’s many strengths, providing greater stability, supporting our colleagues and creating more value for members across the region.
Thank you to all our colleagues across Essex for everything you have contributed during this first year together.
Chief Officer, Food
I am delighted to welcome Matt Heslop, who joined OurCoop yesterday as our new Chief Officer, Food.
Matt brings more than 20 years’ experience in food retail and will work closely with colleagues to build on FoodCoop’s strengths, improve performance and create consistently excellent experiences for our members and customers.
He is looking forward to visiting stores, meeting teams and listening to colleagues’ experiences and ideas over the coming weeks.
Please join me in giving Matt a very warm OurCoop welcome.
Matt Heslop, our new Chief Officer, Food
Leckhampton is off to a flying start
As summer gives way to autumn, one of our newest FoodCoop stores is approaching an important milestone and there is plenty to celebrate.
It is almost six months since hundreds of local people joined colleagues to mark the opening of our new Leckhampton Food store on Pilley Lane, Cheltenham. Since then, the store has gone from strength to strength.
Leckhampton is achieving average weekly sales of around £75,000 – approximately £20,000 ahead of its original forecast. Membership participation is also particularly strong at almost 39%, showing that the store is attracting customers and encouraging more people to become actively involved in OurCoop.
Pictured: Debbie with Store Manager Sam Coupland (right) and colleagues during her visit to our Leckhampton Food store
I recently visited Leckhampton and saw first-hand the difference the store and its colleagues are making. It was wonderful to meet Store Manager Sam and the team, see the store in action and hear about the warm welcome it has received from members, customers and the wider community.
The 3,000sqft store created 19 local jobs and offers a larger, more modern place to shop with an extended range, in-store bakery, food to go, Costa Express and electric vehicle charging points.
Its success reflects the hard work of our Leckhampton colleagues and demonstrates what can be achieved when we bring together the right location, proposition, range and customer offer.
Thank you to everyone at Leckhampton and all the teams who supported its development and opening. Its performance gives us a strong foundation from which to learn.
I hope you all have a good week and thank you for everything you continue to do for our Members, customers and communities.
Best wishes,
Debbie
Bronze Award for OurCoop's Green Energy Transformation
A huge congratulations to everyone involved as OurCoop received a Bronze Award for Transformation Project of the Year at the Global Sustainability Awards. The award recognises the Society's ambitious green energy transformation, including renewable energy generation across more than 130 sites, community energy partnerships through Younity, and initiatives that have reduced energy use, carbon emissions and costs across our estate.
This achievement reflects the collective efforts of colleagues across OurCoop who are helping deliver a more sustainable future for our members, communities and the environment. Well done!
The OurCoop team with their Bronze award
Colleague of the Month winners: August
We're delighted to announce the August winners for Colleague of the Month! A huge congratulations and well done for all your hard work. As a thank you, our winners will receive a £75 OurCoop voucher (or £150 to share for a team win)
Our Overall August Winner - combined win for Broadway Stourbridge and West Hagley Stores.
A combined win for Broadway Stourbridge and West Hagley Stores
The teams at Broadway Stourbridge Food Store and West Hagley Food Store were recognised for going above and beyond to support their local communities during the recent devastating wildfires.
They showed exceptional compassion, teamwork and initiative by quickly providing essential supplies to displaced residents, including vulnerable nursing home residents. From food and bottled water to toiletries, milk and breakfast essentials, the teams stepped up when their communities needed them most.
Their dedication and practical support made a genuine difference during an incredibly difficult time and demonstrated our values at their very best.
What is Colleague of the Month?
Every day, our colleagues do brilliant work across our family of businesses. Colleague of the Month provides an opportunity to shine a spotlight on those making a positive impact.
Each month, we’ll celebrate colleagues through three award categories:
• Category 1: Outstanding contribution to our integration programme
• Category 2: Increasing cross trade across our family of businesses
• Category 3: Delivering exceptional performance or service
How we’re rewarding colleagues
Colleagues and teams who are selected as winners of Colleague of the Month will receive £75 and £150 respectively in OurCoop vouchers, which can be spent across our family of businesses. We also select an Overall Winner who we feel really stands out from the bunch.
Don’t forget, nominations for September close at 5pm on Friday 25th September – so get your entries in now!
Re-launching Our Inclusion Networks in National Inclusion Week!
It’s National Inclusion Week, and we’re excited to re-launch Our Inclusion Networks - bringing colleagues from across OurCoop together to connect, share experiences, learn from one another and help create a more inclusive OurCoop.
But what are Our Inclusion Networks all about, and how can you get involved?
🎥 Watch our short video, to find out more from our Inclusion Leads.
Whether you’d like to learn more, meet new people, share your experiences or play a part in creating positive change, there’s a place for everyone in Our Inclusion Networks.
You can also reach out to any of Our Inclusion Leads or contact diversityandinclusion@midcounties.coop to find out more.
Together, we can build stronger connections across OurCoop and create a Society where everyone is welcome here.
Yom Kippur - on 20 & 21 September
Wishing a peaceful and meaningful Yom Kippur to all those celebrating.
Yom Kippur is a day of reflection and atonement, traditionally marked by prayer and fasting.
Making a difference in our community 💙
To end colleague news this week, colleagues at Codsall Food recently welcomed local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) into store for a scam awareness drop-in session, helping members learn how to stay safe from fraud. Around 20 members stopped by for advice and support, showing how our colleagues continue to make a positive difference by bringing valuable community services closer to the people who need them. A great example of cooperation in action!
Codsall Food welcomes local Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) to their store