Having been a colleague at Southern Co-op for 19 years, I was initially hired as a Team Leader. I acquired my skills qualification in scratch bakery/ confectionery. From working first in a new concept food to go store, I have since then worked my way up through the business taking on various roles, including Deputy Manager, Store Manager, Area Support Manager and into my current role as Area Manager, where I am field based working with store teams.

As an Area Manager, it is imperative that the values and principles we as a business stand for are shared amongst our teams and the role our colleagues play being at the heart of the community, is the most fundamental driver for me. This has been no more apparent than during the pandemic, where I have been proud to see that our teams are more committed than ever to deliver excellence in stores, creating a safe environment for our colleagues and our customers.

I am also lucky enough to be a family man, my wonderful wife Laura (clearly the glue that holds this home together) and my two daughters Eva 8 and Willow 6 who are both very independent, capable, funny and very caring young ladies who alongside their mother keep me very much outnumbered and in check. It is my family that helped me take the leap into applying for the board, taking the leap into something as alien as being director is a huge step outside my comfort zone.

I felt I needed to give back to help ensure the future of our business is left in as strong an ethical and environmental place as possible, so my children and my grandchildren get to enjoy this great society for years to come.