Our Future Plans - Q&A with Debbie & Phil

Phil Ponsonby:
Hello everyone. I'm Phil Ponsonby, Chief Executive at The Midcounties Co-operative.

Debbie Robinson:
Hello there everyone. I hope that you're all keeping safe and well.
I'm Debbie Robinson, Chief Executive at Central Co-op.
And welcome back to our joint podcast series.

You may recall last week we filmed from the Central Co-op Support Centre at Lichfield, which was great to be at. I hope you found that information really helpful.
This week, we’re here at our Little Pioneers Nursery at Warwick Gates in Warwick, just up the road from our Support Centre — filming in the parent room, in fact.

We’re really privileged to have been given badges made by one of the children here, Poppy Thomas, who made these wonderful name badges for us so we knew who we were while visiting the nursery.

Phil:
What a great start to the week — meeting Poppy was a real highlight! Four years old and already writing name badges — really impressive.

Debbie:
I've actually had quite a long history with childcare, Phil. As a working mum, when my children were small — my son’s now 38 and my daughter’s nearly 35 — things have changed so much.
From the minute you walk in here, you can feel the care. It’s calm and nurturing.
So tell me — when did you get into nurseries at Midcounties Co-op, and why?

Phil:
Well, it was before my time — over 20 years ago, actually. The former Oxford, Swindon and Gloucester Society first entered the early years sector as part of a strategy to see how co-ops could improve community life.
Education is one of the co-operative principles, so it made perfect sense.
It was hard work in the early days to establish, but through acquisitions and investment it’s become a successful business.
We’ve been opening brand new sites like this one at Warwick Gates, which really deliver value for us and our communities.

Debbie:
I suppose things change — we all had department stores back in the day, but now with so many families where both parents work, Little Pioneers plays an essential role in supporting communities.

Phil:
Exactly. As a co-operative, if you want to play a part in education, what better place to start than with the youngest members of our communities — from babies to age five.
You’ve seen them today — it’s a great setting. We’ve developed a clear and distinctive approach.
It’s not just childcare; it’s education, emotional wellbeing, sustainability, and community engagement.
The children grow vegetables, visit nearby care homes as part of our Intergenerational Care Programme — all of which helps their early development.
Those first five years are so crucial, and we’re proud to play that part.

Debbie:
I couldn’t agree more. Leanne told me they even took the children to the cinema with residents from the care home — a multigenerational day out. How fantastic is that?

Phil:
Amazing, isn’t it? Little ones going to the cinema with people in their 80s and 90s — it’s wonderful.

Debbie:
So Phil, how many Little Pioneers nurseries do you have now?

Phil:
We have 46 nurseries in total — most branded as Little Pioneers. Some still use the older Co-operative Childcare branding, but we’re phasing that out.
We’re continuing to open purpose-built sites like this one, with a few in the pipeline — including new sites in Stratford-upon-Avon and Exeter.
It’s not about having the most nurseries, but the best ones — in the right locations, offering high-quality early years education.

Debbie:
You’ve really convinced me about the merits of purpose-built sites. I used to think nurseries should feel like homes, but seeing the natural materials, open layout, and direct access to outdoor spaces — I’m sold.
At Central Co-op, we’re also developing new stores and finding that developers want the “golden triangle” — food stores, nurseries, and care homes.
We’re already working with you on a site at Ely that will have a Little Pioneers nursery and a Co-op food store.

Phil:
Exactly. We’ve done similar developments in Telford and Wantage — both combining nurseries and food stores.
We’re the only organisation that operates both, so it’s a great opportunity for communities and developers alike.

Debbie:
Co-ops have a history of raising standards in new markets. What are you doing at Little Pioneers that’s setting the standard?

Phil:
We’ve consistently ranked among the top nurseries in the UK for over ten years according to Day Nurseries UK.
We’ve also contributed to the Royal Foundation for Early Years Development, led by the Princess of Wales — even hosting her at our Rosehill nursery in Oxford recently.
It’s great to contribute to the national conversation on early years education.

Debbie:
What a great initiative. Have there been other innovations?

Phil:
Absolutely. Our Early Years team has done incredible work — from achieving Millie’s Mark (paediatric first aid accreditation) to Eco-Schools status across all nurseries, teaching children about environmental responsibility.
We launched the Pioneering Great Futures campaign, which even won an advertising award.
Each nursery has its own chef, providing wholesome food cooked on-site — parents help shape the menus.
It’s all about quality and care.

Debbie:
It really shows. Speaking of care — what colleague benefits do you offer at Little Pioneers?

Phil:
We provide significant discounts on childcare fees for all colleagues — not just nursery staff.
Year one: 60% off fees.
Year two: 40%.
Year three: 30%.
At the moment, 181 colleagues are using that benefit across 44 nurseries.

Debbie:
That’s fantastic — and so important given childcare costs.
We’ve been comparing benefits across our societies — for instance, in food retail we offer 20% off own-brand all year and 10% off branded goods (rising to 20% on pay weekends).
Your 20% discount applies all year, right?

Phil:
That’s right — 20% year-round on most items. We simplified it to make it consistent and easier for colleagues to use regularly, not just on payday.

Debbie:
I think we should engage colleagues directly — ask which benefits matter most, so we can make the new merged Society a fantastic place to work.

Phil:
Completely agree. Benefits should evolve with feedback. We saw during the pandemic how valuable these discounts were to colleagues.

Debbie:
And travel discounts?

Phil:
Yes — we’ve recently increased those too. We offer strong discounts through Co-op Holidays and have removed old limits.
Colleagues at Central and Chelmsford Star get 10% off Co-op Travel, which is great — especially with this gloomy October weather!

Debbie:
Indeed! And at the other end of life, our funeral colleagues also get 15% off arrangements — that applies across all three societies.
It’s a challenging but incredibly meaningful role, and those colleagues deserve recognition.

Phil:
Absolutely — the professionalism and compassion they show are remarkable.

Debbie:
Colleague recognition and benefits will become even more important as we move forward — especially as our societies come together into one family of businesses.
We have around a million active members, but only 13,000 use more than one business.
What an opportunity! Imagine if more colleagues booked their holidays, broadband, or energy through us.
We just need to communicate those benefits better.

Phil:
Yes — it’s about engagement, communication, and consistent service quality across all businesses.
From nurseries full of children in pyjamas today, to our funeral directors — it really shows the incredible diversity of roles in our new Society.

Debbie:
I have to admit, I was surprised to see everyone in pyjamas when I arrived — but I’m glad to hear it’s for charity!
And next week is Purple Tuesday, celebrating different abilities. We’ll be taking part at Central — are you joining in too?

Phil:
Absolutely — our teams are getting behind that.
And yes, just to clarify — our colleagues don’t usually wear pyjamas to work!

Debbie:
We hope you found this discussion interesting. I’ve certainly learned a lot about Little Pioneers and the amazing work you’re doing here.
Please keep your questions coming — they help shape our future podcasts.

Phil:
And don’t forget — our informal Q&A meetings start soon:

• Midcounties Co-op: Monday 3rd November (running for two weeks)

Formal meetings:

◦  Midcounties – Monday 17th November

◦  Central Co-op – Wednesday 19th November

◦  Midcounties – Tuesday 2nd December

Please make a note of those dates. We’ll cover some outcomes in future podcasts.
Thanks for watching, thanks for listening, and keep doing the great work you do for our customers, members, and communities.

Both:
Thank you!