Colleague News 28.07
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Published 28 Jul 2026 in Colleagues
Welcome to this week’s issue of Colleague News – your round-up of the latest updates and highlights from across our Society.
It's been a fantastic week for OurCoop, with the Society being recognised across three prestigious awards and five categories. Plus, there's still time to nominate a colleague for Colleague of the Month – but hurry, submissions close on Friday 31 July.
Triple recognition for OurCoop in a week of award success 🏆
Over the past week, we've been announced as finalists or shortlisted for:
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Retail Industry Awards 2026
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Community Retailer of the Year
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Best Use of Technology
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National Sustainability Awards 2026
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Partnership of the Year
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Major Project of the Year
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Global Sustainability Awards 2026
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Transformation Project of the Year
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Together, these nominations recognise the breadth of what makes OurCoop unique - from supporting our communities and transforming membership through innovation, to leading the way in renewable energy and sustainability.
Our Retail Industry Awards finalist places celebrate two very different but equally important areas of our business. Community Retailer of the Year recognises the positive impact we're making in communities through initiatives such as Fairer Futures, Fairer Access to Work, Bright Future, community investment and colleague volunteering. Meanwhile, our Best Use of Technology nomination celebrates our new membership app and Reward ££s – a part of our innovative membership proposition, developed in partnership with Lobyco, which is transforming how members engage with their co-operative.
The National Sustainability Awards have recognised Younity in two categories: Partnership of the Year and Major Project of the Year. Working alongside Octopus Energy, Younity is helping community energy organisations across the UK generate more renewable electricity while giving local communities greater ownership of their energy future.
Our Global Sustainability Awards shortlist recognises the Society's wider Green Energy Transformation, celebrating the work taking place across OurCoop to reduce carbon emissions, invest in renewable energy and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable future.
While each nomination celebrates something different, together they tell a much bigger story.
They recognise a Society that's investing in technology to improve the member experience, creating opportunities that strengthen communities, and delivering ambitious sustainability projects that make a lasting difference. Most importantly, they recognise the passion, expertise and commitment of colleagues across every part of OurCoop who make these achievements possible every day.
Thank you to everyone who has played a part in these successes. Whether you've supported members in store, contributed to one of the proejcts recognised, worked behind the scenes on innovative technology or helped deliver our sustainability ambitions, these achievements belong to all of us.
Congratulations to everyone involved, and good luck to all our teams ahead of the awards ceremonies over the coming months!
Colleague of the Month – July nominations close Friday 31st July
Nominations for Colleague of the Month close Friday 31st July at 5pm – so if you haven’t nominated yet, don’t wait! Nominate here.
The award celebrates colleagues through three categories:
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Category 1: Outstanding contribution to our integration programme
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Category 2: Increasing cross trade across our family of businesses
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Category 3: Delivering exceptional performance or service
For more information about the categories - and for details on how to write a winning nomination - download our Nomination Guide here.