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Contact Our Staff

Below are the details of our staff here at Co-operatives UK. Alternatively, if you have a general enquiry, please send an email via our contact form or ring 0161 246 2900.
Sarah Aldridge
sarah.aldridge@uk.coop
0161 246 2900 		Support Officer, Reception
Sarah is the main receptionist and switchboard operator for Holyoake House, being the first point of contact for visitors entering the building. She manages the booking system for the conference suite and the requirements for each event. Sarah monitors Companies House for changes filed by members and key organisations, updating the database appropriately. In addition she sets up and maintains the records for unincorporated food co-operatives.
Sarah Alldred
sarah.alldred@uk.coop
0161 246 2934 		Project Manager - Making Local Food Work
At Co-operatives UK I project manage the Making Local Food Work's Good Food, Good Governance programme. The programme has the overarching aim of reconnecting people and land through community food enterprise and has created a series of delivery strands which work towards that goal i.e. food co-operatives and buying groups, local distribution and supply, farmers markets, country markets etc. Our strand plays a supporting role in providing training and support on governance and legal issues (http://s.coop/mlfw). My specific role is to manage the successful delivery of the project.</p><p>This programmed work feeds into and complements Co-operative UK's core aim of Promoting, Developing and Uniting the ethos of co-operation; all the training and support material is free to Co-operatives UK members.
Mr. John Atherton
john.atherton@uk.coop
0161 2462961 		Membership Officer
John is a membership officer who leads on membership engagement initiatives and also focuses the relationship between Co-operatives UK and its 180 worker co-operative members. John also facilitates the worker co-operative council and the southern sectional council of consumer co-operatives. John currently writes a blog on worker co-operatives here: http://workerco-operatives.blogspot.com
Ms. Helen Barber
helen.barber@uk.coop
0161 246 2954 		Secretary & Head of Legal Services
As the Secretary of Co-operatives UK Helen is responsible for maintaining a relationship with the Board and ensuring their meetings are run effectively, and that Co-operatives UK internal corporate governance is managed. As Head of Legal Services she is responsible for the overall management of the Legal Office considering new products and the delivery of the legal services to members and third sector organisations. Helen is also responsible for the policy in relation to the legislative framework for co-operatives in the UK and works closely with the Financial Services Authority and HM Treasury in this regard. Along with the Secretary General and the other members of the Senior Management Team she plays a key role in establishing the strategic direction, structure and culture of Co-operatives UK.
Linda Barlow
linda.barlow@uk.coop
0161 246 2959 		Legal Officer
Linda's work involves providing legal and governance advice to existing co-operatives and assisting organisations and individuals that wish to form a co-operative. As well as providing legal and governance advice to organisations working in the third sector, such as not for profit organisations and charities. This includes, taking initial enquiries over the telephone and email, advising on the different legal structures available, as well as assistance with registration and, where appropriate, charity registration both with the Charity Commission and HMRC. Providing legal and governance training and presentations to organisations working within the third sector is also part of her work.
Ms. Isabel Benitez
isabel.benitez@uk.coop
0161 246 3287 		Member Services Support Officer
Leanne Cank
leanne.cank@uk.coop
0161 246 2927 		Secretary General Support Officer
I am responsible for providing general administrative support to the Secretary General's office and the Senior Management team, my duties include: acting as the first point of call for the Secretary General's Office; ensuring that effective diary management and the scheduling of routine appointments and meetings, maintenance of contacts and travel and accommodation bookings; providing the Senior Management Team members in scheduling meetings; assisting with the organisation and running of Co-operatives UK meetings and events. I am also part of the Health and safety committee for the building.
Penny Claiden
penny.claiden@uk.coop
0161 246 2953 		MLFW Project Support Officer
Penny provides administrative support to the Good Food, Good Governance strand of the Making Local Food Work project, which includes organising venues for the programme of regional training days, capturing statistical information and reporting to the MLFW evaluators and internal steering group, publicising the project's new publications, being first point of contact for external enquiries, and offering support to other team members.
Gerard Devlin
gerard.devlin@uk.coop
0161 246 2982 		Legal Officer
Ged has worked in the Legal Service Team at Co-operatives UK for four years and during this time he has advised hundreds of organisations working within the co-operative and mutual sector. Ged has experience of advising both end users and support providers of the role that governance and the appropriate legal form can play in the viability of any prospective business. Prior to working at Co-operatives UK, Ged studied at the College of Law and in previous work related roles, Ged has worked on projects for undertakings as diverse as large commercial banks to not-for-private-profit organisations. Ged has been involved with several of the programmes Co-operatives UK is currently running and has offered advice to many of the organisations looking to engage with the projects, including the hugely successful Community Shares Programme.
Shelagh Everett
shelagh.everett@uk.coop
0161 246 2921 		Business and Organisation Development Manager
Shelagh, who joins us after working for Co-operative Financial Services (CFS) for 20 years, will provide leadership and direction to business development across the business with the objectives of: developing future revenue streams, identifying and building the organisational capability to secure these and ensuring that all work is in line with our strategic mission. Prior to working for CFS, Shelagh worked for The Co-operative Bank, Unity Trust Bank and in the trade union movement and has a wide range of skills and experience to bring to this new role.
Mr. John Goodman
john.goodman@uk.coop
0161 246 2933 		Head of Policy and the Regions
John co-ordinates Co-operatives UK's policy work on behalf of the movement, including responses to UK Government consultations and developing policy on areas that the members consider important (eg regeneration, health & social care, finance, the environment). He works with colleagues who lead on some areas of policy (eg Helen Barber on legal issues) and works closely with Mary Rayner, Policy and Research Officer. He is responsible for the Co-operative, Environmental and Social Performance Indicators and has the housing brief for Co-operatives UK, working closely with the Confederation of Co-operative Housing. At the moment this is mainly focused on the Commission on Co-operative and Mutual Housing. John is also responsible for supporting the Regional Co-operative Councils (RCCs) which operate in each of the 9 English regions and in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Ms. Sundeep Grewal
sundeep.grewal@uk.coop
0161 246 2920 		Membership Development Officer
Sundeep is responsible for delivering recruitment campaigns, marketing the benefits and services of Co-operatives UK and managing and developing member service. She is also responsible for member communications, producing the monthly members' briefing and also facilitates the Midland Sectional Council of consumer retail co-operatives.
Mr. Philip Holmes
philip.holmes@uk.coop
0161 246 2910 		Finance Manager
Phil has overall responsibility for the operation of the Finance team within the organisation and is part of the Senior Management Team responsible for the strategic direction and operational efficiency of the business. He is also the Secretary for the Co-operative Performance Committee (CPC) of Co-operatives UK which bring together accountants and other professionals from all parts of the co-operative movement providing recommendations and guidance to its members on best practice for accounting standards, KCPIs and CESPIs.
Zena King
zena.king@uk.coop
0161 246 2903 		PA to the Secretary General
Zena leads the support given to our Secretary General and ensures the effective implementation of management information and planning systems across the organisation. Her work also involves enabling systematic contact, information sharing and relationship building between the Secretary General and members, key stakeholders and decision makers pertinent to the co operative movement. Zena also carries out administrative and logistical duties for the Board of Directors, their subcommittees and meetings of the Senior Management Team.
Emma Laycock
emma.laycock@uk.coop
0161 246 2956 		Senior Legal Officer
Emma manages a team of two Legal Officers, and takes responsibility for managing new areas of work, attending internal working groups that require a Legal input. Along with the other Legal Officers Emma provides legal and governance advice to members, new co-operatives and other third sector organisations, including providing advice on choosing an appropriate legal form, drafting of the governing document and the registration of the organisation.
Tom Litherland
tom.litherland1@uk.coop
0161 246 2900 		House Keeper
Tom is responsible for efficient running of Holyoake House particularly with regard to ensuring the building is cleaned and well presented. He manages the meeting rooms and conference facilities by making sure they are ready for use by staff and customers, ensuring the rooms are laid out as required and any catering requirements are managed.
Ed Mayo
ed.mayo@uk.coop
0161 246 2936 		Secretary General
Ed Mayo is Secretary General of Co-operatives UK, the membership network for co-operative businesses. He is a long-term co-operator and has a track record of innovation and impact in his work to bring together economic life and social justice. From 2003 - 2009, he was Chief Executive of the National Consumer Council, merging this with two other bodies to found a new statutory consumer champion, Consumer Focus, in 2008.
Mrs. Petra Morris
petra.morris@uk.coop
0161 246 2960 		Projects & New Ventures Officer
Petra's role includes co-ordinating the work of the Co-operative Business Development Panel (formerly New Ventures Panel). Currently involved in the Community Shares (Government funded 2 year action learning research project promoting raising finance from community share offers) www.communityshares.org.uk, Health & Social Care (Department of Health funded 2 year project to develop mutual responses to delivery of social care) and Greener Together- the co-operative way www.greenertogether.coop projects. She also co-ordinates the meetings of the Co-operatives UK Forum and delivers events and conferences as appropriate.
Linzi Nedoszytko
linzi.ned@uk.coop 		Communications Assistant - Co-operatives Fortnight
Linzi currently helps to deliver the Co-operatives Fortnight campaign, as well as the Greener Together project. She graduated from Manchester Metropolitan in 2009 with a 2:1 BA Hons in Advertising and Brand Management
Ms. Kate Pickering
kate.pickering@uk.coop
0161 246 2930 		Innovation Programme Leader
Mary Rayner
mary.rayner@uk.coop
0161 246 2904 		Development Officer
I am currently on maternity leave (as of 30th January 2012). Please contact reception on 0161 246 2900 in my absence.
Michael Shepherd
michael.shepherd@uk.coop
0161 246 2975 		Michael is part of the shared services team he assists in producing reports, budgets management and statutory accounts for Co-operatives UK, the Co-operative Press and the Co-operative Party. He is responsible for ensuring the finance function keeps up to its ISO 9002 Quality standard, as well as being the Money Laundering Reporting Officer. In addition Michael manages the finances for Co-operatives UK's externally funded projects and acts as Treasurer and renewal officer for UK Society for Co-op Studies and well as supporting the Finance Manager with the Co-operative Performance Committee.
Mr. Mark Simmonds
mark.simmonds@uk.coop 		Field Officer, Good Food, Good Governance
Mark is employed through the Making Local Food Work project and works as a peripatetic development worker, delivering training to other development workers helping to set up community food enterprises. Mark also works directly with new and existing community food enterprises to ensure that they choose the most appropriate structure and governance. Mark's work is accomplished through delivering workshops, generating paper and web-based resources, administering the Good Food Good Governance pages of the Making Local Food Work website (www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk) and running a legal and governance helpline. He also works closely with Co-operatives UK membership section to bring new and existing community food enterprises into membership where appropriate. In his spare time, Mark co-ordinates Calderdale Local Orchard Group is treasurer of his local allotment society and is restoring an historic canal icebreaker.
Mr. Giles Simon
giles.simon@uk.coop
0161 246 2941 		Communications Officer
Giles is the Communications Officer for Co-operatives UK. He helps co-ordinate communications across the organisation, with a particular responsibility for external communications. He helps plan, manage and deliver Co-operatives UK's media and PR work, along with key campaigns such as Co-operatives Fortnight and 2012, the International Year of Co-operatives.
Mr. Paul Smith

0161 246 2978 		Information Officer
Paul is responsible for looking after the organisation's website, providing members with passwords and ensuring other staff keep their pages updated.
Kika Strong
kika.strong@uk.coop
0161 246 2905 		Facilities Management Officer
Kika is responsible for managing Holyoake House including Reception and co-ordinating all building works relating to Holyoake House liaising with contractors and dealing with queries and complaints from Tenants. Kika provides the administrative support for a number of events runs by Co-operatives UK, ie Congress, National Retail Consumer Conference, Accountants' Forum and the Sectional Councils. She is also the Responsible person for Health and Safety for Holyoake House. Kika is the Personal Assistant to the Senior Management Team and is also responsible for managing office supplies and equipment for Co-operatives UK's staff.
Lesley Taylor
lesley.taylor@uk.coop
0161 246 2915 		Finance Administration Support Officer
Lesley is part of the Finance Team and is responsible for the daily input onto the Sales/Purchase and Nominal Ledgers of Co-operatives UK, Co-operative Press and the Co-operative Party. This includes the issuing of sales invoices, payment of suppliers, credit control and staff and committee expenses. She works closely with Michael on the reconciliation of membership subscriptions which involves updating and maintaining records on the database.
Bernadette Turner
bernadette.turner@uk.coop
0161 246 2939 		International Officer
Bernadette is the first contact point for any enquiries regarding international issues.
Pat Wilson
pat.wilson@uk.coop
0161 246 2912 		Payroll/Personnel Officer
Pat is part of the Finance Team and is responsible for the payroll for Co-operatives UK, Co-operative Party, Co-operative Press and Co-operative Press Pensioners as well the payroll service which is provided as a membership service. Pat monitors the bank balances for the above organisations and invests any surpluses to ensure assets are used effectively. She is also responsible for all banking matters, electronic transfers etc and monthly reconciliations.
Gareth Wright
gareth.wright@uk.coop

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Co-operatives UK Limited, Holyoake House, Hanover Street, Manchester, M60 0AS.
Registered in England as an Industrial and Provident Society under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965. Registered no. 2783R.