Why do you want to be a director of Southern Co-op?

• To champion diversity & inclusion within Southern Co-op
• To represent the ethics of the business
• To represent all members of Southern Co-op

Why do you think you would be a good director of Southern Co-op?

I have 19 years food retail experience, 5 of those years within Southern Co-op and the past 3 years as an Area Manager. I would use all this collective experience to invest in helping to shape the future of Southern Co-op.

As a current member of Southern Co-op, I would strive to represent all colleague and customer members equally from the front line in our stores.

Diversity and equality are something I am very passionate about and I will work tirelessly to represent these areas. All of these will allow me to serve you to the best of my ability.

How do you demonstrate Southern Co-op’s values in your own life?

In my spare time, I am involved with various local community groups. Theatre is my biggest passion.

I am currently working with my local theatre group to take them forward to charity status, to be able to provide an already fantastic community service and stretch that further to reach out to a greater area, expand membership, and gain grants to allow the theatre more accessible to all users.

My consideration of diversity along with my mindful awareness of business is providing the broad thinking required to make this project a success.

Candidate Answers to the Questions from Members

Question 1 – What changes or improvements should Southern Co-op make in order to stay profitable and to keep, and hopefully increase, its customers with the ever increasing challenges of bigger and more heavily discounted supermarkets? – Steven from Winchester

The answer lies within our member offers. We can drive loyalty with our customers while offering some fantastic deals at competitive prices. I will certainly be championing this from store and Board level.

Question 2 – In what ways would you represent and support Southern Co-op’s colleagues at board level, to help them enjoy their roles and achieve their aims?

I would tirelessly represent all colleagues at board level. Being a Southern Co-op colleague myself, I would have ideal first-hand interactions with colleagues at store level to represent their views. I would also use the Board platform to reach out to colleagues in other sectors of our business that I have not been involved with yet.

Question 3 – What do you understand is the difference between a co-operative and a company?

The biggest and most important difference is the governance of the business. Having our members as the owners means that we stay connected to as many people as possible. Giving members a say in the running of our business is such a key feature to its success.

Question 4 – Climate change is going to increasingly affect all our lives and will mean necessary changes to food production, reduced availability of certain foods, necessary mitigation of increasing temperatures on machinery and vehicles, staff and customers. What would you do to ensure that Southern Co-op is prepared for these challenges and that customers can be assured that measures are in place to mitigate the effects of climate change? – Jane from Corsham

This is a serious issue facing us all. We must prepare ourselves for the future and most importantly, ensure it’s sustainable. Southern Co-op has some robust policies around climate change and from a Board level. I would ensure I had good levels of communication with our People & Sustainability Director to keep informed in this area.

Question 5 – I like Southern Co-op and shop regularly. However, the smaller stores seem to have lots of offers on highly processed and unhealthy foods like ready meals, bakery items etc. This concerns me as I think of Southern Co-op as an ethically clean group. Can you tell us what you would do to make Southern Co-op more green and encourage healthier eating and living? – Helen from Bath

Encouraging healthier living lies more in society and the education that surrounds it. I don’t believe the recent introduction of HFSS was the right way for government to tackle the issue. Customers will still buy what they want, regardless of where it is. The way to encourage healthier eating is to make it more affordable When a Mars bar is less than £1 and a small pot of fruit is nearly £3, there’s the problem.

Question 6 – I have recently been reading of concerns regarding the rearing and butchering practices of some co-op suppliers, particularly in the poultry industry. What are your views and positions when it comes to how animal welfare is upheld in the name of the co-op movement?

Very simply, if a supplier is not acting appropriately within guidelines and upholding animal welfare, then that supplier should be addressed and immediate action taken.

Question 7 – What will you do to pro-actively encourage more people from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic groups to stand for board elections? – Richard from Epsom

This is a key element of my standing for the Board – Diversity and Inclusion! I strongly believe in fair opportunity for all to be able to do whatever they want. This is not exclusive to any one particular background, race, gender or sexual orientation. All groups should have the exact equal right and opportunity as each other.

Question 8 – What would you do to address the fact that different co-ops have different cards? Do you agree that one co-op card for national use is needed?

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a one card fits all!? However, as all Co-ops are independently run businesses this is a challenge I’m sure to get universal agreement. Certainly, a question worth asking!

Question 9 – For those standing for re-election, what difference have you made? For those who are standing for the first time, what difference will you make?

The difference I will bring to the table is my broad thinking. I have an ability to think outside the box and allow others to question the “norms”. I challenge the status quo and seek rationalisation in all aspects. The very worst thing anyone can ever say to me is “that’s the way we’ve always done it”.