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 246 2961	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.
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	International Year of Co-operatives Programme Leader 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.
Mr. Philip Holmes philip.holmes@uk.coop 0161 246 2910	Head of Finance and Shared Services 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.
Steven Kay steven.kay@uk.coop 0161 246 2981	Data and Analysis Officer Steve is responsible for monitoring and reporting upon the performance of co-operative enterprises. This is done by utilising a database of all known Co-operative Enterprises which is maintained and updated regularly from external sources and from the enterprises via surveys. The results are consolidated together and presented in an annual report to Congress providing an assessment of the economic and social impact of the co operative movement in the United Kingdom economy, the Co-operative Review. Also, Steve, compiles Performance Monitors for each of the member consumer co-operatives. The monitors report on the society's commercial performance, co-operative environmental and social performance, and compliance with best practice in respect of corporate governance and accounting standards.
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
Kate Pickering kate.pickering@uk.coop 0161 246 2930	Innovation Programme Leader Kate joined Co-operatives UK in September 2011 to develop a new innovation programme that includes events and workshops to develop innovation capability. Previously she lead a city wide innovation programme for Greater Manchester and was nominated an RSA fellow in recognition of her work to promote innovation and community cohesion. Kate began her career at the BBC and maintains a strong interest in technology and audience engagement. Alongside the innovation programme she has delivered the 'Co-operate' project, the first UK sector wide co-operative smartphone and tablet application set to launch 19 June 2012.
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.
Mr. Michael Shepherd michael.shepherd@uk.coop 0161 246 2975	Management Accountant 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 Philip Holmes with the Co-operative Performance Committee.
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 paul.smith@uk.coop 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.
Jacqueline Warner jacqueline.warner@uk.coop 0161 246 2906	Events and Promotions Officer I am responsible for running and developing Co-operatives UK programme of events. This includes the National Retail Consumer Conference, the Practitioners events and Congress as well as looking for new opportunities. This year I'm helping to deliver the International Year of Co-operatives closing week - Co-operatives United from 30 October - 2 November 2012 in Manchester. Contact me for more information. I'm also responsible for coordinating Co-operatives UK's presence at exhibitions.
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 0161 246 2785	Support Officer Gareth is part of the shared services team and assists in the membership application process, renewals and finance matters including subscriptions and internal processes. Gareth works closely with all members of the shared services team which meets on a regular basis.

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