Creating a New Society Podcast - Looking ahead to the Merger

00:00:05:02 - 00:00:28:13
Debbie:
Hello there everyone. I hope you, your family and friends are all keeping safe and well and have managing to survive. The atrocious weather that we've had, recently.

Phil:
Yes. And hello from me too. And, we're getting very close now to the completion of our merger. The legal completion, anyway, is probably when the work really starts, but we're not far away now are we.

00:00:28:13 - 00:00:56:07
Debbie:
We’re certainly not. And what a lot of hard work has gone into this. And I'd like to thank all of the colleagues who've been directly involved in all of the work that we've had to do to get us to this really momentous moment in both our societies. History.

Phil:
Yeah. You know, what's been a pleasant surprise to me is actually the two organisations coming together and across, you know, all the teams and all the interactions, how close we already are.

00:00:56:09 - 00:01:14:14
Phil:
And there's a lot of work to be done in terms of integration and systems and all those elements, but in terms of people and how they feel about co-op and how they you know feel about the businesses that we run. There's a real closeness in terms of the positivity around that. And that's made it much easier so far hasn’t it.

00:01:14:15 - 00:01:32:07
Phil:
And, you know, people have been very, very keen to do their part and and help to get us to this stage. Clearly there's a lot, lot more to be done. But to get to this stage that's really been as a result of the, you know, working together every level from the Boards to the Executive and, you know, the management teams across the organisation.

00:01:32:08 - 00:01:55:12
Phil:
So that's been a real positive for me.

Debbie:
Well, it certainly has. And of course, in these podcasts, we've actually been asking people to come forward, and we've been inundated with people who really want to say, I want to be part of integration. But equally, there've been some colleagues that have been really clear in saying, I really love my job, and this is the value that it brings to the Society of the future.

00:01:55:14 - 00:02:27:04
Debbie:
And I think that that is really, amazing. And it's brilliant that the integration team is now being formed. Of course, you've had clarity around the Executive structure, and to prepare us for day one will be really clear on all of the colleagues who have had a change to their reporting line. So we will be communicating directly with each and every one of you and being very clear when it comes to the 26 of January 2026, just who you will be reporting directly to.

00:02:27:06 - 00:02:45:12
Debbie:
I think giving that surety is really, really important for people.

Phil:
Yeah, and in reality, you know, there's a lot going on. But for most colleagues day one, it's business as usual isn't it. As you know, that's because the two societies, whilst they were merged on day one, you know, we're still running different systems and different operations. And so really important.

00:02:45:15 - 00:03:01:21
Phil:
We've stressed this before with some colleagues to understand that, you know, not a lot will change on day one. I know there's been a lot of questions about is the name going to change on day one and where does that got something else. And obviously we've not got there yet with that have we. But colleagues aren't going to see a lot changing on day one.

00:03:01:23 - 00:03:23:17
Debbie:
No I've got to say I think it's been really disappointing that we haven't been able to launch the new Society with a new name from day one. That would have been ideal. I mean, what a springboard. So what we've done, though, we've been really, really pragmatic. What is brilliant is both societies, and Chelmsford Star Co-operative societies that already adopted the ICA.

00:03:23:18 - 00:03:52:19
Debbie:
So the International Co-operative Alliance logo, which has been linked O’s, it's a brilliant modern sign. It's something that signifies everything that brings us together as co-operatives. So what you will see on the 26th of January, 2026 is you will see the names of our respective societies replaced with the international logo. So your payslips and also the receipts across our broader family of businesses.

00:03:52:23 - 00:04:26:15
Debbie:
So I think that will really signal change. And there's another aspect of the coming together of the two societies. And that's the wonderful family of businesses. And I think that's what we should really be celebrating here. United under the ICA logo with an extended range of businesses that we can all benefit from. So we'll be communicating very clearly to you as colleagues, but also to our members, just the additional benefits that you will actually have immediately from the 26th of January.

00:04:26:21 - 00:04:55:11
Debbie:
And that will include discounts off the goods and services, etc. and also we’ll be looking every month to actually launch a welcome offer to each of the new businesses. And then that will allow us to learn about the family of businesses that we have to really be aware of the breadth services that they offer, and most importantly, for us to participate as colleagues economically in our enlarged Society.

00:04:55:13 - 00:05:17:01
Debbie:
So whilst it was disappointing not to have a new name, we've got a brilliant shared brand that our colleagues, our members and our customers will see more and more of from the 26th of January.

Phil:
Yeah, and it's been really good to introduce the different Workstream leads over the last couple of podcasts, and they've been able to talk about their areas of responsibility.

00:05:17:01 - 00:05:37:07
Phil:
And it's, again, really important for colleagues to recognise that you know, we will be really careful about how we change things. And that's what those Workstreams are set there to do. So, you know, we're not just going to rush off changing things. We do need to, we do want to get on with things and make the most of this wonderful new Society and everything that it will bring, for our colleagues, but also obviously for members and our communities, too.

00:05:37:07 - 00:05:55:24
Phil:
But we're going to be really careful about how we do that. And that's about making sure we make the right changes at the right times and we won’t always get it right, but, you know, there's a lot of planning and work going in. And it's great to, you know, think that we do actually all work for co-op at the end of the day, and that ICA mark is a fresh brand we've been very proud to utilise over the last number years.

00:05:55:24 - 00:06:14:21
Phil:
I know, you have to and I say Chelmsford Co-op to, so that's a really, really good outcome. I think and also that the way of talking about our new Society as a family of businesses because we are unique in that respect. No other, co-op, in fact no other business in the UK runs this collection of businesses that we’ll be running from the 26 of January.

00:06:14:21 - 00:06:37:01
Phil:
So I think that's a really great way of describing it.

Debbie:
I totally agree, and certainly from my perspective, I'm really looking forward to learning about those new businesses to just looking where the synergy benefits are. So how we can actually grow our member participation and some of them won't even know that we have so many, businesses, and they'll be able to really take advantage of that.

00:06:37:03 - 00:07:06:15
Debbie:
And I think as well as the cross marketing, we can really attract new members to each of those business offers. So we've been doing quite a lot of work just looking. For example, we sell nappies in our food stores. But have we got a partnership in the Early Years, business, you know, are there opportunities that we could have there to promote the Early Years business through the distribution of nappies in our food stores, etc., we can really, really start to raise awareness.

00:07:06:17 - 00:07:29:19
Debbie:
And I must say, travel is one of those businesses, that most people who, you know, are fortunate enough to have a holiday a year and I think through, a travel co-op, we should make that even more accessible. So I would really like to build that in as member benefits. And certainly if we can start to build cash pots you can imagine that that could be used for a holiday.

00:07:29:21 - 00:07:53:05
Debbie:
But you know, equally, you might decide to put that towards a funeral plan for your future, but it's giving members and colleagues the flexibility to manage, their participation within, our great new, co-op with a wonderful family businesses.

Phil:
I have to admit that I have been trying to observe dry January and I've been pretty good

00:07:53:05 - 00:08:12:19
Phil:
apart from I think one particular Saturday night, after my football team, lost for a change. But I have been pretty good at observing. Dry January and I've got this dilemma because I have a bottle of champagne at home, and I'm just conscious that I may, it may get opened on the 26th of January if we get this over the line on time.

00:08:12:19 - 00:08:29:08
Phil:
So, how are you going to celebrate on the 26th if we?

Debbie:
Oh well, I'm going to I'm going to be with you when you pop that champagne Phil for sure. And I hope it's co-op champagne. Well, let's say well, I mean, this podcast will be going out. We'll have less, hopefully less than a week to go. To the completion.

00:08:29:08 - 00:08:55:04
Phil:
So it's been a great, great journey so far and tremendous hard work by lots and lots of people. And you know, colleagues, you know, most colleagues won't necessarily know how much detail goes into this type of change, and particularly around all the regulators we work with, the Civil Aviation Authority, Ofsted and Ofcom and Ofgem, ABTA, you know, the Financial Conduct Authority, so many of them and they've all got to be engaged and work through.

00:08:55:04 - 00:09:13:21
Phil:
And that's a lot of work. And, you know, I've been so, so proud of all the colleagues that have worked so hard to get us to this stage. And, let's hope we get that last bit over the line for 26th.

Debbie:
I couldn't agree more. So many unsung heroes. But it's also been amazing how all of those bodies have supported us in this.

00:09:13:21 - 00:09:33:11
Debbie:
And of course, without their support, we couldn't have moved forward. So there is just, I think real momentum and you can feel that energy, coming, but it very much is a Co-op that we are co-creating for the future. And each and every one of us has a hand in that future and how successful that it can be.

00:09:33:13 - 00:10:00:04
Debbie:
And what I've really liked is the way that the teams, as you said, are coming together in a set of shared co-operative values and principles, but also with the energy and the ambition to actually push it further. And the benefit of these two societies coming together is we're going to be able to unlock and we're going to be able to generate the funds for us to reinvest in the business, like neither society has been able to do before.

00:10:00:05 - 00:10:01:07
Phil:
Absolutely.

00:10:01:09 - 00:10:06:03
Phil:
Yep. So there you go colleagues. We're almost there. Hopefully in the next few days.

00:10:06:05 - 00:10:20:21
Phil:
We will be concluding this merger. And that's probably when the really hard work starts. But, for the meantime, that's it from me. Thanks for listening.

Debbie:
Thank you to each and every one of you. And we are so looking forward to working with you in the future. Thank you.