Meet the advice team
We know co-ops. Our expert co-operative advice team support co-ops with governance, new registrations, conversions, HR, culture and performance, membership strategy and much more.
Emma Laycock
Emma is a member of Co-operatives UK's Leadership Team (LT) and has been advising co-operatives and mutuals of all sizes on all aspects of governance for over 20 years. As the head of Co-operatives UK’s Advice Team she leads on our chargeable services work and, alongside the rest of the team, ensures that we are the place for our members to find the advice they need. Emma is the author of the Co-operative Code of Governance and specialises in offering expert advice to co-operative boards. She is Co-operatives UK’s Interim Society Secretary.
Zena King
Zena has more than 10 years’ experience of co-operative society governance, with an academic background in law and was Co-operatives UK’s Society Secretary for five years. Zena is accustomed to guiding a non-executive board through discharging its responsibilities and effective decision making; being accountable for regulatory compliance and implementing corporate governance best practice. She has supported boards in developing strategic plans, policies and processes and has direct experience of leading internal audits and gap analysis exercises.
With experience of effective governance systems that facilitate member ownership and control, Zena provides practical solutions for co-operatives to bring together corporate governance best practice and co-operative values and principles. Zena is also an accredited data protection practitioner and, alongside supporting our members, leads our own work to ensure compliance with data protection legislation. Zena has practical experience in the boardroom too. She sits on the board of Co-operatives UK member Projekts MCR and is a former director of Co-operative and Community Finance.
Tim Knowles
A qualified solicitor specialising in employment law in co-operatives for more than 15 years, Tim has unique and substantial additional expertise in employee relations, collective bargaining, recognition and industrial action, and an in-depth understanding of HR policy, reward and benefits strategies.
Kate Fielding
Kate is an experienced HR professional with almost 10 years' experience in HR policy, reward and employee relations in co-operatives. A chartered member of the CIPD specialising in all things policy, Kate is well placed to provide expert advice, guidance and support on all aspects of the employment journey.
Gary Morrison
Gary has a wealth of experience in the field of employment law, having previously worked as an ACAS officer and for the Employment Tribunals before qualifying as a solicitor at DWF solicitors.
Gary has worked as a solicitor with the Co-operative Group and many independent co-operatives as part of the Co-operative Employers Association and is a very experienced Employment Tribunal advocate and his knowledge and experience extend to all aspects of employment law including complex areas such as TUPE and discrimination.
Dane Pollard
Dane works in our Advice team and is the first point of contact for all governance and legal enquiries. Dane specialises in providing advice and guidance to new start co-operatives and mutuals looking to incorporate and supports all types of co-ops with their governance arrangements, processes and policies. Dane also acts as account manager to members that have set up in the last two years and provides guidance to them on all aspects of their governance calendar. He has many years of experience dealing with customers in the retail sector as well as clients in the corporate world.
Richard Self
Our Agriculture Manager, Richard Self, boasts more than 30 years of experience within the farming, food and land-based industries. Richard heads up the £2m EDGE Apprenticeships scheme at Anglia Farmers and was formerly Regional Manager and national lead on training development at European Farming and Food Partnerships (EFFP). Rural Business Manager at Business Link Suffolk and a Manager at FMTS, a subsidiary of Fram Farmers.