Our AGM Success, Mental Health Week Update & Ask Phil a Question

This article will take approximately 3 minutes to read

Published 22 May 2020 in Phil's blog

Did you enjoy this post:

Our AGM Success

I’d like to start this week’s blog with a thank you to everyone involved in making the AGM a success last Saturday.

These things take a huge effort to pull together, with contributions from many individuals creating the end result. From set design to presentation materials, video production, technical setup and communications, there was a lot of work done ahead of the event.

On the day it resembled a mini tv studio production, with 3 cameras, a full lighting setup, 6 microphones and 3 big screens, 1 showing the presentation, 1 showing what the audience could see and 1 showing the questions coming in live. Colleagues from CIT made sure we stayed online, whilst presentations, questions and the voting were managed by a team of colleagues and suppliers, using 10 laptops and specialist vision mixing, audio and streaming technology, but with all that tech about we still had to take a clock off the wall to see what the time was.

In addition to the challenges that social distancing and new ways of working brought, some of the technology was new to us, and indeed as the first consumer co-operative to do this we had some learnings along the way. Even up to the night before we were experiencing some technical difficulties, which I am pleased to say the team overcome to deliver a fantastic result.

So, in no particular order, thank you to everyone for playing their part in making this the success that it was, Aaron Clayton, Stephanie Ford, Stuart Hunt, Callum Dunne, Shin Thandi, Andy Stuart, Pete Westall, Gareth Quinn, Melody Aguero, Peter Lockey, Satinderpal Bhurji, Julie Sheldon, Caroline Nichols, Michael Tattersall, Lee Franklin, Hayley Small. My co-presenters, Helen Wiseman, Edward Parker, Peter Dubois, Matthew Lane and our partners from Hughes Productions, Glenn Hughes, Mervyn, Steve Pickering and Mark Kram and Richard Lee from StreamGo. The final thank you goes to Tarra Simmons, who was given the honorary title of Starra for pulling it all together, well done all.

After the event, we wanted to know what members thought and so asked them to let us know by completing a short survey, which nearly 300 members responded to.

I am pleased to say that after all the hard work those members who joined us on the day gave us really positive feedback about the online AGM. Some key highlights from the survey are:

38% of the attendees had never previously attended an AGM
97% said it was either Extremely easy or easy to follow
41% said it was easier to follow than previous years’ AGMs (57% said just as easy)
93% found it easy to ask their questions and vote
Overall 66% have rated it either 9 or 10 out of 10

There was a lot of praise from the Members, with many saying that it was informative, well presented and well organised. We’ve had a number of comments saying that they preferred the virtual experience as it was a shorter day and didn’t require travelling, it gave people who are normally unable to get to the event the opportunity to join for the first time. Many said they would attend online in the future as a result.

There were also a couple of trends on how we could improve it, including an option to make the view full screen, as some found it difficult to read the information on the slides and some said they would have valued the opportunity to interact earlier in the meeting.

It’s important that we listen to our members and this insight will really help us in our thinking for future events.

Ask me a question?

This week I would like to encourage you to ask me a question. Simply put your question in the comments below, it can be on anything that you would like to know, and I will respond as part of my blog next week.

Mental Health Awareness Week update

This week we have shown our support for Mental Health Awareness Week. We know Mental health problems can affect anyone, at any time, and here at Midcounties we believe that mental health is everyone’s business.

It was really good to see our partners Cal Major, Our Environmental Ambassador and Paul Thompson from Springfield Mind joining in, providing top tips and recording a personal message to our colleagues on how to manage stress more effectively. Also, hearing from Steve Killick from our Walton Street Food store in Oxford, about his personal journey and the work he is doing to support others, it was really inspirational.

Here is Cal's Tip for today:

Gratitude Practice

Try thinking every day of 5 or 10 things you're grateful for. It can be literally anything - try not to judge it. This can help overcome negativity and infuse some positivity in your life. Turning it into daily practice has been proven to improve mood and resilience over the long term too.

And Paul's:

Try this for one minute...

Take a seat with your feet on the ground & take a deep breath.

Feel your body as you inhale.

Take a long breath out & notice your body as you exhale.

Follow your breath in and out.

Rest your mind on your chest or at your nostrils.

Just be aware as you breathe in... and aware as you breathe out.

Rewards

Meditation improves willpower, attention, focus, stress management, impulse control and self-awareness.

Next step

Find a time each day as a 'trigger' to meditate i.e. after a particular activity such as coming into your home or entering your home office, dining room or bedroom.

Don’t forget if you or your colleagues need any additional support you can contact GroceryAid on 08088 021 122

Join the Conversation

Sorry, you must be logged in to add your comment. Sign in now

Julie Smith (POSTOFFICE) 28 May 2020 11:57

Hi Phil. Hope you are well. How will travel and childcare branches look different and work differently as branches re-open. What new measures are in place in those trading groups now? Have travel colleagues had new or different training to help customers who might want to book a holiday but are wary. Thank You.

Lee Franklin (MEMBERS) 26 May 2020 13:42

For the past 8 weeks myself and team have been working from home. During normal time the team are based at Co-op House. On the whole the IT has proved a success and we have been able to deliver a comparable service to our internal and external customers. Productivity is greater, the working day is more intense, and there is much less in the way of distraction too. Team keep in touch through Skype IM and team meetings are through Sykpe. Do we need a physical head office any more?

Jenny Shorthouse (FOODRETAIL) 24 May 2020 22:15

Hi Phil With the amount of new customers food are attracting in stores would it be possible to have members cards in store so we could set up immediately Rather than them leaving the store and collegues replying on them ringing the membership line

Jenny Shorthouse (FOODRETAIL) 24 May 2020 22:14

Hi Phil What plan is in place for keeping all our businesses on track moving forward as covid 19 continues and if we have another peak what help and support will there be for our travel colleagues. Also our home shopping deliveries have been a massive life line for some of our members in the community will this be something the society might continue in the future Thanks

Mike Seaton (FOODRETAIL) 24 May 2020 20:21

Hi Phil, How has the current crisis impacted the society planning for new store openings, and will there be thought given to social distancing measures when new store openings are planned? Also, has thought been given to rewarding the volunteers who are doing such an incredible job delivering to our vulnerable customers?

Wendy Parkes (FOODRETAIL) 23 May 2020 17:24

Hi Phil During this pandemic we have sourced stock from our local suppliers as an interim measure which has been successful in our store. Do you think we will be investing more in our local ranges to continue to compliment the core range and help drive our business further?

Nigel Burke (FOODRETAIL) 23 May 2020 13:32

Afternoon Phil, Going forward has the company got any plans for bulk antibody testing(when available from government) or will it be up to the individual to attain? Thank you

Jeremy Ince (FOODRETAIL) 23 May 2020 06:16

Hi Phil, the Coronavirus outbreak has changed the working lives of the majority of Colleagues. How do you think that the ongoing situation will effect the mental health of not only those colleagues working day to day in retail environments but also of those colleagues who will be returning to very different arrangements after extended periods away? I read the useful tips on Colleagues Connect but is there more can we do to help colleagues manage their well being and adjust on their return?

Sharon Williams (FOODRETAIL) 22 May 2020 16:10

Hi Phil, i would just like too express my thanks to Midcounties for providing us all with the fantastic PPE. This equipment has helped keep me, my colleagues and customers safe. The only question i do have is will we be looking to maintain the home delivery service to the vulnerable people in our communities.

Lee Stapleton (FOODRETAIL) 22 May 2020 15:30

Hi Phil, Do you think we will review our new store layouts as it’s suggested social distancing will be here in some form for months or years to come, especially in our convenience estate where the aisles are generally narrower. Also are we planning on investing more in self checkouts as the use of cash has considerably reduced in the last 3 months.

Dave Hughes (FOODRETAIL) 22 May 2020 15:20

Hi Phil, I would like to echo the members comments regarding the AGM and thought the online version was a great success! The Feedback in store regarding the supply of PPE has been excellent, Especially with regards to the Checkout/Kiosk screens. Do you see the checkout screens becoming a permanent fixture? The colleagues are saying they feel better protected and would like to keep them.

Gavin Bruce (FUNERALS) 22 May 2020 14:39

These are truly unprecedented times for all trading groups during this COVID 19 pandemic. I understand the impact and its challenges are different for each trading group. What do you see the biggest challenge for the Society as a whole being following the pandemic for both colleagues and our members . Also will the Society continue to operate with the pandemic on its agenda as we may face a second or further waves of COVID 19.