Society Successes, Retail Crime & Cal’s Colleague Competition

Childcare Open Day Success

The Childcare team have worked incredibly hard over the recent months, being highly professional and exemplar in providing a safe environment for children and colleagues, whilst continually assuring parents, so I was delighted to hear of the record-breaking success for our Co-op Childcare Open Day, see here.

 

The team did a great job welcoming 781 families, converting 552 into bookings and securing 319 full-time places as a result, all whilst having safety at the forefront. Great job.

I’d like to say well done to our colleagues and in particular, Nursery Manager, Mina and the team from Maida Vale Nursery who made over 24 bookings – an incredible achievement. I’m looking forward to catching up with Mina and the team in the near future to find out how they do it.

 

75,000th Home Delivery

The home delivery service that was set up in response to members needs is something that I think we can all be proud of. From a standing start to now the 75,000th home delivery it is a brilliant achievement and not only is it great that 100-year-old Bruce Harris received his delivery and special hamper, but also the feedback from his neighbour, Colin highlights the difference it has made to people and the community.  

“Many, many thanks for the hamper and the pictures. It is fantastic that he is the 75,000th home delivery, Bruce was over the moon. Also, many thanks to Dave too for the fantastic volunteering work he and the team are doing. The Co-op at it’s very best!”. This really exemplifies the fantastic work our Home delivery team, stores & volunteers are doing to support many people like Bruce in our local communities, thank you.

 

Bruce Harris received a special hamper & his delivery by the Church Stretton Food store.

 

Stewartby Store launch

Yesterday saw the launch of our latest Food store in Stewartby, Bedfordshire. The Your Co-op Food store represents a further investment of £500,000 in our Food Group following the recent launches of the Food Market stores in Moreton-in-Marsh, Botley & Bidford-on-Avon.

The store increases our presence in the county of Bedfordshire and creates 15 new jobs to the local area. Read more here.

A big welcome to our new colleagues and good luck to our new store manager James O’Farrell-White, who is also the in-store wine expert.

 

Retail Crime – Open Letter

We continue to highlight and join the call to protect retail workers from abuse, threats, and violence as while we know that the vast majority of people recognise the importance of retail workers, and the service they provide to local communities, the levels of abuse and violence directed towards those colleagues across the retail sector continues to rise.

I believe there is a clear need for more effective legislation to increase the level of protection and that’s why I, along with other CEO’s of major retailers signed an open letter to the Prime Minister calling on the Government to support legislative change.

This letter will be published in the Sunday Times this weekend to help raise awareness of this highly important issue.

 

Your Half Yearly Meetings

The Half-year meetings are now less than a month away. We are holding two meetings this year, and both will be virtual, much like the AGM.

North - 6 Oct 2020 6:00pm - 8:00pm

South - 13 Oct 2020 6:00pm - 8:00pm

This is your chance to get involved with how your Society is run and to help shape the future of your co-operative and so it would good if you could join us.

To register and find out more information please click here.

 

Cal’s River Severn Expedition Finishes & Colleague Competition

 

I would like to congratulate our Environmental Ambassador, Cal Major on finishing her #PaddleAgainstPlastic expedition successfully this week, well done.

It was amazing to see how Cal covered an incredible distance of 240km on the river while managing to collect 70kg of rubbish, including plastic water bottles, bags and flushed items. 

I look forward to seeing the final video of the expedition and seeing how you paddle with a freezer on board.

Remember to conclude the campaign, we have an exclusive colleague competition for you all, where you could win a Stand-Up Paddle Board experience with Cal Major & Paddle Boarding equipment. To take part, click here.

 

Diversity Meeting – we want to hear your voice!

As part of the Diversity and Inclusion group, we will be hosting a meeting to agree on the strategy moving forward over the next 18 months. Taking place on 28th September it will be hosted by the Business in the Community, our Chief Values Officer, Pete Westall and Chief HR Officer, Clare Moore.

This is your chance to get involved, share your views and be involved with the society’s long term diversity agenda over the coming months. Why not take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to help shape our future direction and objectives?

If you are interested, please email rebekah.brain@midcounties.coop by Wednesday 23rd September. Please note there is a limited number of places and it will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

As always, let me have your thoughts by commenting below.