Board elections
Democracy is the lifeblood of co‑operatives and we want as many of our members as possible to get involved in the election process, either standing as candidates, nominating candidates or voting for candidates.
Co-operatives UK Board elections
The 2026 election cycle - as we look for talented candidates to add their own unique skills to our Board of Directors has now concoluded. This year we had seven seats available, in the following categories of membership:
- Mixed Ownership Co-operatives
- Worker Co-ops (two seats)
- Enterprise Owned Co-operatives
- Federals
- Retail Consumer Co-operatives (Scotland and North)
- Retail Consumer Co-operatives (South)
Contested elections took place in both the Mixed Ownership Co-operatives and Worker Co-ops categories:
- Candidates for the Mixed Ownership Co-operatives seat: John Boyle (nominated by the Co-operative Party); Damian Bridgeman (Bridgeman Community Foundation); and David Dunne (Heptonstall Community Assets)
- Contesting the two Worker Co-ops seats: Richard Bridges (VME Coop); Natasha Natarajan (Outlandish Co-operative); and Mikaela Raphael (Agile Collective)
Results will be announced in due course.
Our Board of Directors is elected by and from our members on a rolling three year cycle. The Board is drawn from different constituencies of members to provide a balance of experience and knowledge. Elections are staggered so there is at least one board election each year.
The 2026 election cycle has now concluded. The call for nominations was sent out to all members falling into the relevant category of membership on 11 February. The deadline for nominating candidates for election to our Board expired on 25 March (2026). Voting in our two contested elections (Worker Co-ops and Mixed Ownership Co-operatives) closed on 27 May (2026). All members falling in the Board seat categories received instructions on how to vote, including their own unique link. For candidate information and applications forms see here. For more information contact [email protected].
Who can stand for election?
Co‑operatives UK's Board of Directors is elected by and from our members on a rolling three year cycle.
The Board is drawn from different constituencies of members to provide a balance of experience and knowledge. Elections are staggered so there is at least one board election each year.
We would like to hear from candidates with skills and experience in finance and/or retail in particular. We also welcome candidates with experience from outside of the co-operative movement. Diverse boards are proven to be more effective and we are committed to increasing diversity in our boardroom - and treat all nominations equally.
What makes a good director?
There is no identikit for the perfect director. In fact, we want a real balance of skills and personalities to help take Co‑operatives UK, and the wider sector, forward. Candidate information and the Board nomination form can be found here.
Co-operatives UK Board elections
The Board
Who is on our board
